New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Feb 18, 2004) took a dig at the critics of "India Shining" campaign, saying he failed to understand the reason for their ire and asserted that the country would soon acquire super power status.

"I would have understood if we had said BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) shining and they criticised it. But the other, I cannot understand and it pains me," he said at a function marking Maharishi Dayanand's enlightenment on Maha Shivratri day.

Referring to the 1971 war, which saw creation of Bangladesh, Advani said if there was any one person who complimented the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for India's triumph, it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said the greatest achievement of the present Government was the self-confidence it has created in every Indian. Citizens are now confident that India is on the road to achieve super power status and to lead the world like it once used to, Advani said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the country had made "extraordinary" progress in the last five years and said there was increasing acceptance of this all over the world.

Many non-resident Indian's (NRIs) who had participated in the recent Pravasi Bharti Diwas had communicated to him that there was new-found respect for India and Indians around the world.