Friday, July 8 2005 19:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Reflecting apparent divisions within BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) on whether Pakistan is responsible for the terrorist attack in Ayodhya, veteran party leader Murli Manohar Joshi today (July 8, 2005) squarely held the ISI responsible for the incident even as its President L K Advani avoided any reference to the neighbouring country during his visit to the temple town.

"I have said earlier also that the attack on Ayodhya was supported and guided by the ISI of Pakistan", Joshi told reporters when asked why BJP was avoiding any reference to Pakistan.

Joshi's comments were in contrast with that of Advani who even sought to target the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the Uttar Pradesh Governments for repealing POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).

Interestingly, former BJP National Secretary and Advani's close aide Sudheendra Kulkarni who is believed to have been behind Advani's praise of M A Jinnah, today praised the BJP chief for his refusal to blame Pakistan for the Ayodhya incident.

"The BJP President's refusal to blame Pakistan for the Ayodhya incident is as eloquent as the Pakistan Government's welcome gesture last month of inviting L K Advani to do the 'shilanyas' for the restoration of Hindu temples at Katas Raj," Kulkarni said in a hard-hitting article.

Advani, who had sought to shed his hardline Hindutva image in Pakistan, apparently does not want to lose the goodwill he earned in that country, party sources said.

Some party leaders maintained that Advani "did not want to derail the peace process with any statements."

Joshi, however, defended Advani against charges of delay in visiting Ayodhya.

"He was in Guwahati when the incident had happened. Other leaders were already in Ayodhya yesterday. So, he chose to go today", he told a press conference earlier in the day while asking the media to "remove their coloured glasses".

Asked whether he had visited the site on the instructions of the party Chief, Joshi evaded a direct reply and said, "It was decided at a meeting of the party office bearers on the same day and Advani was not there. But later he was told about it by a party functionary".

To questions about Advani's controversial remarks in Pakistan, he said, "It's time to move forward".

The BJP leader also sought to differ with NDA Convener George Fernandes who refused to blame the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government for any security lapse in Ayodhya terror attack.

"It is his (Fernandes') assessment. I believe that both the Centre and the State are responsible for the security lapse", he said.

Not satisfied with the Union Home Secretary's reported statement that the Centre had passed on relevant intelligence to the State Government, Joshi said, "Wasn't it the responsibility of the Centre to pursue it and ensure that no such elements entered the State?"

To a question whether the attack would serve to revive the Ram temple movement, he said, "What is there to revive? The mood is already there for construction of a temple"

Asked why the issue was put on the backburner during six years of NDA rule, he said, "It was not on the NDA agenda. It did not gain momentum due to shortcoming on media's part".