New Delhi: In a candid admission, senior BJP leader L K Advani yesterday (Jan 21, 2007) acknowledged that organisational disputes did exist in the party and regretted that they came out in the open.

He told a party workers' meeting here that restraint was required against bringing organisational feuds into public view.

"We are like a family. If there is some quarrel in a family and outsiders come to know about it, then that family wonders how it happened. But what about us?" he asked.

Advani's comments echoed BJP chief Rajnath Singh's remarks to the party national executive in Lucknow last month that those not authorised to speak to the media should restrain themselves from public comments, especially on internal issues.

"Our quarrels come out in the open," the former Deputy Prime Minister remarked as he cautioned ticket aspirants for Delhi municipal elections not to speak against the organisation if their candidacies are rejected.

Advani also spoke about the need in the party for hard work as the it faces key electoral battle ahead.

"We have already struggled and reached this position, but now the need is to work hard," he said.

Strongly defending former party MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, who quit the Lok Sabha following his conviction, Advani referred to his offence as a 'slight quarrel'.

"It was unprecendented that a cabinet minister (Shibu Soren) was convicted and jailed, but remained an MP unlike ours (Sidhu) who quit over (conviction for) slight quarrel," sai Advani, who did not name the former cricketer.