New Delhi: Observing that the country was at a "turning point" and the coming Lok Sabha elections very important, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Mar 27, 2004) asked Muslims to "rethink" about BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and remove misunderstanding about it.

"If after fresh thinking, you feel that there were some shortcomings in your thinking (about the party), then you should remove them. If you still feel it is not alright, then you have the freedom," he told a meeting of Muslim intellectuals, religious scholars and editors of Urdu newspapers from across the country at his residence.

Noting that he belongs to BJP, the Prime Minister said that the Muslims could have a "rethink" about this party if they have not already given a thought to it. He always welcomed constructive criticism, he said.

Vajpayee said that unlike in the past there were no emotive issues this time and asked the electorate to take the "right decision" after carefully evaluating the performance of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government.

"This is a time when all the right decisions can be taken after careful consideration without being swayed by emotions," he said.

"The country is at a turning point. Never before elections have been held in such a peaceful environment," he said.

Having a jab at the Opposition, he said those who fought elections on emotive issues were now facing a big problem. What will they tell the people? How will they provoke them and make them come out to vote for them? he asked. The "biggest" issue for them was that there was "no issue" which they could exploit.