June 1, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

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NEW DELHI, May 31: Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and six others were on Saturday charged with involvement in the demolition of a controversial mosque in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh 11 years ago.

The United News of India reported that others charged in the case were former federal minister Uma Bharti, leaders of fundamentalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Sadhvi Rithambara and Vinay Katiyar.

Katiyar is also the chief of Uttar Pradesh unit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

Charges against the eight were filed in a court in Rae Bareli town of Uttar Pradesh state by the federal police CBI.—dpa