Delhi babus told me to influence J-K polls: Advani

However, Advani said the much acclaimed free and fair elections had raised India’s credibility in the international community and more importantly it had made the people of J-K trust the Centre.

Advani said by keeping the promise of free elections in the state, the BJP government had shown its sincerity on the issue. In the same vein, he patted the government of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for ‘‘making a good beginning’’.

On the insurgency in the North-East, Advani told members that he would never compromise with the territorial integrity of any of the states while working out a peace deal with Naga insurgents. He claimed that negotiations with NSCN (IM) leaders were being held openly in India and not on foreign land as was being done earlier.

Advani took the Congress members’ criticism of poor internal security situation with a pinch of salt. ‘‘We never criticised you when country lost a prime minister and a former prime minister due to terrorism,’’ he told Congress leaders who had referred to Advani changing his residence due to threat perceptions.