Saturday, June 4 2005 19:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A controversy appeared to be brewing within the Sangh Parivar over BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President L K Advani's utterances in Pakistan on Ayodhya demolition and Pakistan's founder Ali Mohammad Jinnah, with RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) today (Jun 4, 2005) saying that such remarks were against its ideology.

Asked to comment on Advani's praise for Jinnah in Karachi earlier in the day as well as his comments on the demolition of Babri Masjid three days ago, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said, "Everyone should keep in mind what impact his statement would have on the cadres".

"People are not happy, they are angry. They will like to know in what context he (Advani) made the statements (describing Babri Masjid demolition as his "saddest day" and Jinnah as having a secular view)," Madhav told sources in New Delhi over phone from Bangalore.

On Advani's remarks on Jinnah, the RSS spokesman said, "This is against the basic ideology of RSS. We have been of the view that Jinnah was responsible for division and partition of the country. This (statement) goes against it."

Questioning the BJP chief's statement that Jinnah had espoused a secular Pakistan, he said, "If this was Jinnah's view, then who was responsible for partition of India."

"We want to know what was the intention of his statement," he said.

VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore also attacked the BJP President saying that he was making such utterances in the race to project himself as a secular leader. "We condemn this betrayal," he added.

Madhav hoped that "everything will be clear" after Advani returns from Pakistan and says in what context he made the statements.

Asked whether the RSS will seek an explanation in this regard from Advani, he said, "He will speak to you (journalists)".

VHP had earlier lashed out at Advani for describing Babri Masjid demolition as his "saddest day".

VHP Working President Ashok Singhal had accused Advani of having "betrayed" the Hindus and demanded a public apology from him for the statement.

BJP is maintaining silence over the statements, with senior leaders and spokespersons refusing to comment on it.