Wednesday, December 28 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Holding that he was 'innocent', two senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders today (Dec 28, 2005) came out in support of party general secretary Sanjay Joshi, who quit following surfacing of a VCD showing him in a compromising position, saying the entire exercise was aimed at maligning the party.

"He is innocent", claimed party's general secretary Pramod Mahajan and went on to add, "just like Sita had to undergo the agni-pariksha, in line with Sangh traditions, he (Joshi) has promptly resigned. I do not think that this marks his permanent sanyas from active politics.

Mahajan said an investigation would reveal the 'duplicity' of the CDs and then he will stage a come back to active politics.

Former BJP President Venkaiah Naidu said, "The entire exercise has been done to malign the party".

Demanding a thorough investigation into the episode, Naidu said, "till the completion of the inquiry, Joshi will remain out of the party. Joshi has himself made this request to party President L K Advani. After mutual consultations, our president granted this request".

Joshi, a senior RSS leader deputed to BJP in 2001, had requested Advani to be relieved of his post and sought an inquiry into the 'campaign' against him.