New Delhi: Giving a pat on the back of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on September 15 eulogised his much-criticised "gaurav yatra" saying it was the need of the hour and the popular response to it was unnerving the Opposition.

"The massive turnout at the Gujarat Chief Minister's gaurav yatra is a source of nervousness for the Opposition parties. When the Opposition parties denigrate Gujarat as 'Godse's Gujarat', the need for restoring Gujarat's 'gaurav' (honour) is all the more," Advani told a meeting of BJP's central office-bearers.

In an apparent reference to criticism of Modi within the party, he said, "the functionaries of the party must be very careful and speak in one voice".

"Even when there are no differences, minor differences in nuances can be exploited. As a ruling party, we are under the microscope. Therefore, our political behaviour must strive for idealism," he said.

Gujarat Minister Haren Pandya had resigned from the state Cabinet following differences with Modi, which was later sorted out with Central intervention while Modi's predecessor and poll campaign in-charge Keshubhai Patel had recently stated that elected MLAs would chose their leader as against the projection of Modi as a Chief Ministerial candidate.

Describing "gaurav yatra" as a "highly successful programme", Advani said the party must now work to make its "gaon chalo abhiyan" (go to village campaign) and the proposed December rally in the capital into a success.

PTI