New Delhi: In the wake of the attack on telephone tariffs from within the Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on May 9 advised National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents against openly criticising the government policies, but raise them at the appropriate forum.

"Whatever views one may have, there should be no public criticism. It should be done at the appropriate forum," he said launching Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'Sahyog' cell, which will see regular interaction between party ministers and cadres.

Hitting out at the Opposition parties, he said, "Their efforts were only to see how to create a rift within the NDA partners, between parties and government and within the Parivar."

Advani took a dig at those who were trying to create a divide between him and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, especially the media, saying "this was a puerile approach". He was referring to reports about his absence in Lok Sabha on May 8 when Vajpayee was replying to a debate on Indo-Pak relations.

On the recent three-day meeting of the sangh parivar, which was attended by the top leadership of BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), he said, "This was a conscious effort by the parivar to have synergy among the ideological family and these meetings would be held on a regular basis."

On Indo-Pakistan relations, Advani said he was fully in agreement with what Prime Minister had stated in Parliament that Pakistan must stop cross-border terrorism.

"How can you have friendship with Pakistan if it doesn't dismantle terrorist infrastructure in that country?" he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister appreciated the systematic manner in which BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu has been organising the party and having frequent interaction between party ministers, MPs and workers.

Speaking on the occasion, Naidu hit out at Congress and Opposition parties, saying they should first put their own house in order before criticising the ruling NDA.

He referred to the action against Congress MPs in Lok Sabha, who had raised a Calling Attention Motion on defence matters.

He said the party fully supported Prime Minister's peace initiatives with Pakistan and "we want him to move forward. It is a coalition and once government decides, the entire party is with him."

PTI