Tuesday, June 7 2005 15:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Breaking its silence on Party President L K Advani's resignation, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Jun 7, 2005) came out strongly in his defence saying his commitment to nationalism cannot be questioned and the party needed his leadership.

"Advaniji's commitment to nationalism and the nationalist ideology cannot be questioned in any manner. The party has reached its current heights due to his contribution," party Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told sources in New Delhi.

He said the party's senior leaders have met and appealed to Advani to withdraw his resignation.

"We told him that the party needs his dynamic nationalist and strong leadership," Naqvi said.

Naqvi was part of the party delegation, which tried to persuade Advani to withdraw his resignation.

The other leaders included M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar.

Party leaders have so far remained tight-lipped over the developments.

Naqvi's statement comes after VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Praveen Togadia's fresh attack on Advani describing the resignation as a "victory of patriotism over treason."