Talcher (Orissa): Refusing to be apologetic over Hindutva, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Apr 14, 2004) said ideologies are also intended to promote the welfare of the people.

"In a Parliamentary democracy, political parties function for attaining results through government and by achieving power they want to promote the welfare of the people," he told reporters on the last day of his 'Bharat Uday Yatra'.

"Ideologies are also intended to promote welfare of the people and I see no contradiction between the two," he said.

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"Coalitions, whether it be the Sanyukt Vidhayak Dal Government of 1967 or the present NDA (National Democratic Alliance), function through a common agreed programme applicable to all parties."

"Ideology is dear to every party but it also feels that formation of Government would help in people's welfare. As long as efforts to achieve power are not opportunistic there is nothing wrong in it," he said.

Stressing that he was not apologetic over Hindutva despite being attacked by Opposition parties on the issue, Advani said, "Hindutva, Bhartiyata and Indianess are synonymous".

The Deputy Prime Minister said, "we should go by the Supreme Court judgement that is very elaborate and cogently spelt out that it (Hindutva) was not the name if a creed but a way of life."