Refrain from criticism in public: Advani to BJP leaders

Seeking to assure partymen that there was an “internal mechanism” in the party to air grievances,he said adding however that they “should not air their critical views in public”.

Advani said the party’s stand on Hindutva should not be interpreted as championing the cause of only one religion. Quoting RSS ideologue Balasaheb Deoras,he said BJP did not support the concept of a theocratic state.

In an apparent attempt to distance himself from Varun Gandhi’s hate-speech,Advani favoured the line taken by BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain who had contended that Varun’s speech had cost the party dear in the elections.

“At our office-bearers meeting two days back,two eminent colleagues of ours affirmed their faith in Hindutva but cautioned against any narrow,bigoted,anti-Muslim interpretation being put on it,” he said.