NEW DELHI, Sept 19: A special court on Friday ordered the trial of rightwing Hindu politicians accused of having a hand in the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, but exonerated Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani of the charge that he had incited the destruction.

However, his rival, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi was charged and he submitted his resignation from the cabinet to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Mr Advani had also offered to resign if he was charged.

The special court indicated that specific charges in the demolition case would now be framed against Dr Joshi and six others, including former minister Uma Bharti.

The accused, including Mr Advani, were present in Ayodhya watching the destruction. Dr Joshi and Ms Bharti were photographed rejoicing, apparently, as the structure collapsed.

BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Ashok Singhal, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Giriraj Kishore, and Sadhvi Rithambara are the other accused.

All of them have been asked to appear in court on Oct 10, when formal charges would be framed.

Both Dr Joshi and Mr Advani are senior members of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the ideological fountainhead of Hindu revivalist groups that include the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Dr Joshi, a Brahmin from Uttar Pradesh, is favoured by the influential Hindu upper castes in the party as the successor to Prime Minister Vajpayee, while Mr Advani is seen as a tactician.