The Hindu : No rift with Vajpayee: Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 13, 2004

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National

No rift with Vajpayee: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 12. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today dismissed reports about fissures between him and the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The media kept writing about it but he and Vajpayee kept laughing over it.

Addressing a rally on the National College grounds here this evening, Mr. Advani recalled that the team work with Mr. Vajpayee dated to the 1950s, and it was continuing. In 1953, the newspaper, Jagran, had carried a picture of Mr. Vajpayee, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and himself, and the newspaper published a similar picture on December 26, 2003, he added.

"Look at the three of us; one has become the Vice-President, another the Prime Minister, and I have become the Deputy Prime Minister. This is the nature of the party, this is the kind of team work and democracy," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party was a party with a difference, and the team was proving it time and again. Under the leadership of Mr. Vajpayee, the country would reach greater heights, he said and spoke about the party's determination to make India a developed nation by 2020 and a superpower in the 21st century.He said that prior to 1947, people joined the Congress as they wanted to be part of an organisation which was determined to free India from colonial rule. A similar movement was taking place now, with a large number of people from all walks of life joining the BJP. They were not doing so for any benefit from the party but to strengthen the country, he added.

From three seats in 1952, the BJP (then Jan Sangh) had gained in strength and had 182 seats in the 13th Lok Sabha. The party's confidence was growing. However, he asked the party workers not to be complacent. "The Indian voter is mature to understand politics and will not tolerate arrogance."

Talking about the birth of the BJP, Mr. Advani said it happened on April 6, 1980. It was Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ. The BJP's resurrection took place on that day and the party had not looked back.

Criticising the Congress, Mr. Advani said the party's tally would not reach two digits in the coming elections. But he corrected himself and said it would not win 100 seats. He said he would not underestimate the Congress. Its leader had asked how a person who was good at poetry could run the Government. "A person who came to politics yesterday talks about someone who has been in politics for almost 50 years."

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