Tuesday, June 7 2005 16:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Apparently enjoying the crisis in the saffron camp, Congress today (Jun 7, 2005) said that L K Advani's resignation was an internal matter of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and felt his controversial statements in Pakistan were aimed at an "image changeover" following the defeat in last Lok Sabha polls.

"The mask that was being worn by Atal Bihari Vajpayee till now is sought to be donned by Advani", party general secretary Ambika Soni told reporters.

Wondering how much the new mask would fit Advani, she said it was strange that the BJP leader, who often branded Congress and its leadership as "pseudo secularists", has hailed Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah as secular.

Noting that it was for the BJP to respond to Advani's resignation and for his "political bosses" in the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)-VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) whether to keep him in the post or remove him, she said that it was ironic that the former Deputy Prime Minister found "the true meaning of secularism in the person of Jinnah".