Thursday, March 10 2005 11:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dissidents in Gujarat stepped up pressure against Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "style of functioning", party president L K Advani today (Mar 10, 2005) asked them not to air their grievances through media and assured that their problems would be "sorted out".

"It is an internal matter of the party and it should not be raised through the media. We will meet and sort out the issues," he told the weekly BJP Parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi this morning, according to party's deputy leader in Lok Sabha V K Malhotra.

Former Chief Minister and Modi's arch rival Keshubhai Patel, around whom the dissident MLAs have rallied around, as also former Union Minister Kashiram Rana were present at the Parliamentary Party meeting.

Advising that such problems should remain within the "four walls" of the party, Advani said that he would be meeting the dissidents from the State shortly to listen to and redress their grievances, Malhotra said.

The BJP Chief's response came when a member pointed out to media reports about the political storm brewing in Gujarat BJP.

In response to a question, Malhotra asserted there was "no rebellion" in the party and the MLAs and MPs only want "their views to be heard".

"We are looking into it. We will talk to them and resolve the differences," he said.

Amidst phone tapping allegations and simmering discontent against Modi's style of functioning, over 30 dissident BJP MLAs and five MPs had yesterday met former Chief Minister Patel and "voiced their protest".

Meanwhile, Patel, who arrived in Delhi late last night (Mar 9, 2005), has admitted that "problems" existed in the party but asserted, "Whatever I have to say, I will raise it in the party fore."