Tuesday, June 7 2005 21:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Backing L K Advani's statement that Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah was a secular leader, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor George Fernandes urged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief to reconsider his decision in the "larger interests" of the country.

"Whatever Advani had said in Pakistan is right. Jinnah was a secular man....It would have been better, if instead of attacking him or describing him as traitor, what he said have been discussed. I think Advani should reconsider his decision," Fernandes told reporters in New Delhi.

Justifying Advani's statement on Jinnah, the NDA convenor said he has read BJP chief's statement describing Jinnah a secular person.

"Jinnah was a secular person till 1935 but the behaviour of the then Congress leader Jawahar Lal Nehru forced him to fight for a separate nation....Even after creation of Pakistan, Jinnah continued to propagate that Pakistan should not be a theocratic state and that there should equality for all," Fernandes said.