Not removing Modi was a mistake, says Vajpayee

The Hindu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 14, 2004

By Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA, JUNE 13. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is on a weeklong sojourn in Manali, admitted that not removing Narendra Modi as Chief Minister after the Gujarat episode was a big mistake. In an interview to a news channel, Mr. Vajpayee said that the Gujarat riots had a nationwide impact and the Opposition had politically manoeuvred the issue.

Asked about a possible change in leadership in Gujarat, he said the issue of Mr. Modi's removal was still open and a decision would be taken at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive meeting in Mumbai later this month. He said many new decisions would be taken and fresh permutations and combinations would come up during the meeting.

When asked about the Leader of the Opposition, Lal Krishan Advani, being projected to lead the BJP, Mr. Vajpayee said: "So far I had shared the responsibilities and they had supported me; now it would be vice-versa." The party would finally decide everything and it would be good "if Mr. Advani takes over the leadership."

"The party has lost under my leadership and I don't mind stepping down," he said.

On whether the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance Government would complete its full term, Mr. Vajpayee said: "It has internal contradictions and every party is there for its own gains. It would collapse." He again discouraged the use of objectionable language vis-�-vis the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and said it was not acceptable to the people. He said the concept of going for elections before time was neither approved nor rejected by him, adding that it was a collective decision.

This is why I supported the BJP under Vajpayee and so much against Modi