Hyderabad: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Jan 13, 2004) asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to realise the responsibility "bestowed on them by destiny" in shaping India's future and instil the confidence to strengthen the party network further.

"Destiny has placed the responsibility of shaping India's future in BJP's hands," he told a meeting of party leaders including those from States in Hyderabad, quoting a resolution adopted by the BJP National Executive yesterday.

"For three decades now, BJP has been deciding what the main issue would be for national debate," he said.

Advani said before Independence, those associated with Congress were proud of their relationship with the party. "The name of Congress, the khadi, the white cap associated with it, were things which evoked respect. Those active in Congress at that time used to believe they were making history.

"As important activists of BJP today, do we have the same feeling that we are also making history? We have not been able to recognise the import of our role properly," he said and asked the BJP leaders to realise the "grave importance of the responsibility thrust on us".