Yerran Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party Parliamentary leader, has said his party did not remain a silent spectator and watch as the federal government pleaded in court, seeking permission to allow the VHP to perform puja on the acquired land in Ayodhya.

In an interview to the English language daily Deccan Chronicle here, the TDPP leader said: "We did not remain silent spectators. We raised the issue with the prime minister, who had already made a statement in Parliament.

"Moreover, it was the Attorney General of India, Soli Sorabjee, who represented and argued the matter in the court. The Attorney General's submission in court was highly objectionable. The TDP is unhappy."

Asked whether he believed the prime minister when he said that the Attorney General was not directed by the government to plead the VHP's case, Naidu replied: "We have to believe the prime minister. When the prime minister of the country makes a statement, how can you not believe him?

"But the fault lies with the government. They should have discussed the matter seriously with the allies and the Attorney General. After all, the bhoomi puja was an important and sensitive issue. Had it been any other issue, it wouldn't have mattered."

In the interview, the TDPP leader was asked: "Is the TDP feeling betrayed because the prime minister did not take the allies into confidence?"

He replied: "There's a growing perception that the TDP is ready for compromise. Even as the BJP brought the Ayodhya issue into focus, the TDP did not think it necessary to sever ties with the government ... when we entered into the coalition agreement in 1996 itself, we understood that it would be very difficult for the government to satisfy all the demands of all the parties.

"If there are differences on any issue, they have to be sorted out through negotiations. Pulling out of the government is not the solution. But it would be wrong to interpret this as the TDP's willingness to compromise on the Ayodhya issue.

"The TDP was closely watching the government's role in Ayodhya. If things had reached the final stage, we wouldn't have sat quiet. We would have acted."

Asked what he meant by the final stage, Yerran Naidu noted: "If court orders had been violated, and the kar sevaks' activities had led to disaster, breaking the peace and harmony of the nation.

"For instance, if the kar sevaks in large numbers had broken the law, or if it had led to a law and order problem, then the TDP would have seriously considered the matter of whether to continue with the government or not."