Sunday, September 18 2005 17:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today (Sept 18, 2005) said it wanted a 'Hindu-minded person' to succeed L K Advani as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and termed as 'unfortunate' his critical remarks against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"Advani's statement on RSS is most unfortunate. The Sangh does not interfere in the organisational matters or day-to-day functioning of Parivar organisations. It does so only with regard to policy and ideological matters and as the head of the Parivar it has the right to do so," VHP senior vice president Acharya Giriraj Kishore told sources in Chennai.

Asked about Advani's announcements of his plans to step down in December, Kishore said that is a matter to be dealt with by the RSS.

To a question on who should succeed Advani, he said, "It should be somebody who is Hindu-minded, who takes everyone along and who gives primacy to ideology and principles."