Friday, December 30 2005 17:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Stung by a series of scams and after a lasting public spat with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the Jinnah controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President L K Advani today (Dec 30,2005) said the 'pains' that the party had to endure in the last 25 weeks had nothing to do with ideology and asked the workers to adhere to discipline by not airing their grievances in the media.

Taking the floor at the concluding session of the BJP's Silver Jubilee National Convention after Atal Bihari Vajpayee left the stage complaining of exertion, Advani said the 'painful events' of the last 25 weeks were 'individual and not collective shortcomings".

Based on the events of the last 25 weeks, he said some in media were writing 'our epitaph' saying that 'the party is over'.

"While our journey over the last 25 years has been that of pride, the events of last 25 weeks give pain," he said in an apparent reference to the scams in which party MPs were involved and the resignation of General Secretary Sanjay Joshi following allegations of a sex scandal, preceded by the row with RSS over his Jinnah remarks.

Using strong words against party MPs caught in sting operations on camera, Advani said "our heads bow in shame when party MPs accept money for asking questions in House."

He told his party workers not to believe the doomsayers, who have written that the 'party is over'.

"Although what appears in the media is important, the real test of a party is determined on the basis of poll performance," he said asking workers not to use the media for airing grievances.

Calling upon workers to register their grievances with the party hierarchy, Advani said communicating with the party through letters leaked to the media 'is a wrong trend that must be stopped'.

He said the partymen should understand that whatever appeared in the media did not not reflect popular perception and the pulse of the people. There was need for partymen to give up the 'craze' to be seen on television, he said adding the party would have to be strict to ensure as to who could represent it on the electronic media.

"Everyone cannot become a spokesman," he said.

Accusing the print as well as the electronic media of indulging in speculation and predictions, Advani said because of the rapid growth of news channels, some sections of the print media have also started sensationalizing issues.

"Even the established print media needed time to cope with its new rival. We must keep this in mind and learn about this media transformation and recognize our limitations," he said.

Warning partymen not to form opinion purely based on what appeared in the media, his advice to them was not to get demoralized by the Shalyas (character in Mahabharat) around, who would only paint a bleak picture.

He recalled how king Karna was taunted viciously by his charioteer Shalya. which ultimately led to his defeat.

The outgoing BJP President warned the workers that there was no no better batsman than the party and they should ensure that they it did not get out by 'hit wicket'.

Advani, however, did not not refer to Vajpayee's statement yesterday declaring his virtual retirement from active politics and hailing him and Pramod Mahajan as 'Ram and Lakshman' of the party.