145;Confusing146; Atal 145;surprises146; Cong

The Congress was quick to seize upon the open differences within the BJP on the Narendra Modi issue and even while 8216;8216;welcoming8217;8217; A.B. Vajpayee8217;s criticism of the Gujarat Chief Minister, criticised him for changing his tune every now and then.

Vajpayee8217;s statement was 8216;8216;surprising and confusing8217;8217;, said AICC spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi, adding, 8216;8216;but we welcome it8217;8217;. He said the ex-PM8217;s statement 8212; blaming Modi and the Gujarat riots for the party8217;s debacle in the general elections 8212; and the chorus of voices in defence of Modi from the Sangh 8216;8216;exposes the internal contradictions8217;8217; within the saffron camp. Pointing out that Vajpayee himself had told the media some days ago that the Gujarat riots had not had any impact on the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Chaturvedi questioned what has happened 8216;8216;in the last eight days to make him take a 180 degree turn?8217;8217;

He wondered whether Vajpayee8217;s latest statement was made with an eye on the Assembly elections later in the year or another instance of the power struggle between so-called hardliners and moderates within the party.

He said BJP chief M. Venkaiah Naidu8217;s statement today that there was no question of removing Modi 8216;8216;only highlights the differences within8217;8217;.