Bangalore: Seeking to end the controversy stirred up by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's removal, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president M Venkaiah Naidu today (Jun 16, 2004) asserted that there was no question of "bypassing" Vajpayee, who was the party's "tallest leader".

"Vajpayee is the tallest leader of BJP yesterday, today and tomorrow," Naidu told reporters, maintaining that the issue had "ended" and they held Vajpayee in "high esteem" and there was no question of bypassing him.

"We are a democracy. There may be views. Once a final decision is taken, everybody abides by it," Naidu said dismissing suggestions that Vajpayee had been "rebuffed", following his remarks on Gujarat, which attracted strong disapproval of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).

Naidu said after taking Vajpayee into confidence, "We have taken a decision," apparently referring to his (Naidu's) damage control statement, ruling out Modi's removal, issued a day after Vajpayee's controversial remarks.

On Gujarat, Vajpayee had only stated that the "negative and malicious" propaganda of the Opposition had impacted the electoral outcome, he said.