Vajpayee indicates he will not lead BJP anymore Wednesday, June 23 2004 22:03 Hrs (IST)
Mumbai:
In a sudden outburst that overshadowed the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) National Executive's deliberations, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight indicated he will not (not) lead the party any more as he has "had enough", an apparent reference to the Sangh Parivar's attack on him after the Lok Sabha poll debacle.
Vajpayee's remarks came on a day when the executive adopted a political resolution to go back to "ideology and idealism" in what is considered as a possible reversion to aggressive Hindutva plank.
His spontaneous remarks came at a BJP rally when his supporters shouted the famous slogan 'Abki bari Atal Bihari (it is Atal Bihari's turn) after release of a book on him at rally attended by L K Advani and M Venkaiah Naidu.
Vajpayee, who has been under attack from the Sangh Parviar more so after his critical comments about Gujarat Chief Minsiter Narendra Modi, retorted in Marathi 'Aata Nako Bari. Pushkal Jhal. (Now no more turn. I have had enough).
Giving vent to his feelings he said 'Paheli bar mere upar kuch bauchaarain par rahi hai, to ye kitab sahara degi (for the first time I am under attack. This book will give me solace)."