Monday, May 30 2005 08:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: After former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it was the turn of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief L K Advani to firmly rally behind Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi saying efforts to "demonise" Modi would not succeed.

Referring to the appointment of a Group of Ministers to look into charges levelled by senior Gujarat police official R B Sreekumar against Modi in handling of post-Godhra riots, Advani said the Centre has acted in a "vindictive manner" by taking the action.

"...Such an act by the Government will only vitiate the atmosphere," the BJP president told Star News.

Vajpayee had on Friday (May 27, 2005) supported Modi, saying those who had failed to defeat him through democratic means were trying dislodge him through tactics like appointing a committee to prove the State Government's role in the post-Godhra riots.

Advani dismissed National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) erstwhile ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the alliance constituent Janata Dal United's (JDU) tirade against Modi Government and termed it as attempts to win over minority votes.

In an apparent reference to dissidence within BJP in Gujarat, Advani admitted there are some issues, which need to be addressed with regard to Modi. "Those issues will be addressed within the (Sangh) Parivar," he added.

On the BJP leadership issue triggered by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan's controversial remarks that Vajpayee and Advani should retire from politics, he said, "More than embarrassment to the BJP, it was the RSS, which officially declared that Advani must continue."

Advani declined to comment whether he contemplated resigning from the post following the RSS chief's adverse remarks but said Sudarshan had clarified that he did not mean it soon after the controversy erupted.

About dissidence in the party's second rung leadership, he said it was a "passing phase" and the discordant notes emerging from different quarters in BJP was the result of "inability of leaders to reconcile with the television age".

Asked about the second generation of leaders in the party, he said, "The issue of first generation and second generation leadership has been hyped unnecessarily by the media."

"We have capable leaders in the second generation, even more capable than me, who can steer the party," Advani said.

He also sought to put a lid on the Uma Bharti controversy, saying she had regretted her behaviour and asked for work.

"The party had decided that Uma Bharti be used for the Bihar election for her unflinching commitment to the party and ideology," he added.

Asked how he felt going to Pakistan and accepting the hospitality of President Pervez Musharraf who accused him of sabotaging the Agra summit, Advani said that much had changed since then.

''I was a party to the decision to invite Musharraf to Agra and the peace initiative undertaken by the Vajpayee Government still continues'' he said adding that whatever happened at the Agra summit was the result of the Government's decision.

''Terrorism may figure in our talks with Pakistan authorities but now the Pakistan Government is also fighting a battle against terrorism,'' Advani said.

''It is in the interest of people of India and Pakistan to develop good relation and mutual co-operation'' he said.