Advani rules out fissures in NDA over Ayodhya

“What was earlier Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s stand that the ministers chargesheeted in the course of a political campaign would not be asked to resign became the NDA’s stand and later still the Lok Sabha’s stand,” Advani said to newsmen in an exclusive interview.

Replying to questions, the Home Minister said, “It has given us a sense of stability because our opponents felt that on the Ayodhya issue, the allies would not support us. They also forced a division (in the Lok Sabha on the censure motion)”.

Asked if he felt insecure about the allies remaining with the BJP despite their supporting the party on the motion, Advani asserted “Not at all”.

On the tenor of the criticism made by certain allies, Advani said, “That is a different matter because the issue was not not raised by us. It (NDA agenda) is an agreed programme”.

To a question whether his stand had been vindicated following Vajpayee’s statements, the Home Minister said, “Our stand has always been the same. There was no difference. It is the opposition which raised the issue. If someone was to ask me whether I believed there should be a uniform civil code in the country, what will I say…I would say it is not not part of my NDA manifesto to have a uniform civil code. But it is certainly something I believe in.”

Specifically asked whether Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee would stick with the NDA in the wake of her overtures to the Congress, Advani said all the allies were with the NDA including Trinamool Congress.

Regarding reports that the BJP was trying to woo back AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, he expressed surprise saying, “I don’t know from where these reports have come”. Recalling that when the Vajpayee Government was formed in 1998 one question that persisted was whether it would last, he said the issue became "sharply highlighted" after AIADMK leader Jayalalitha, who was BJP’s ally in the general elections, had held back the letter of support when the President had asked for it.

“So this kind of uncertainty dogged us for the entire year and the first quarter of the next year manifested itself in that ally breaking away and our losing a confidence vote in the House (Lok Sabha), though by a single vote,” he said.

“In contrast this year which followed the re-election of the Vajpayee Government following a general election has not been marked by any such political uncertainty. In fact, it concluded with an aborted opposition gambit aimed at driving a wedge between NDA allies on the Ayodhya issue,” Advani added.