Monday, June 6 2005 13:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Returning from a weeklong visit to Pakistan, that raised the hackles of the Sangh Parivar over his remarks on Mohammed Ali Jinnah, an unfazed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani today (Jun 6, 2005) stood by his comments and favoured a debate on the issue.

Even as senior party leaders lined up to receive the Party President at the airport, Hindu Jagran Manch put up an anti-Advani poster, which read "Jinnah Samarthak (supporter), Pakistan Premi (sympathiser) Advani, Vapas Jao (go back Advani)."

"I have come to know that my remarks have triggered a debate. I have no objection to it, the matter should be debated," Advani told reporters in the backdrop of the attack by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for his remarks describing the Pakistan founder as a "great man" who espoused the cause of a secular Pakistan.

During the visit he had also regretted the demolition of the Babri Mosque and virtually gave up the Sangh Parivar stand on "Akhand Bharat".

Summing up his visit to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, he said apart from the sentimental values to the country of his birth, the objective of his tour was to promote the peace initiatives by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government for Indo-Pak peace and his efforts had been "furthered substantially."

The BJP leader said that Jinnah in his speech to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947 had favoured a secular and non-theocratic State and the Pakistan founder was of the view that there should not be any difference between Hindus and Muslims as all were its citizens.

Advani said that after laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Jinnah in Karachi, he made a reference to the Pakistani Qaid-e-Azam's address in the course of his comments.

"I did not issue any text. It was just a mention about which I have come to know that there has been some debate here and there. I have no objection to it. It is good. There should be a debate," he said.