M A I N   N E W S

Not removing Modi big mistake, says Vajpayee

Manali, June 13
Blaming Gujarat riots for the BJP’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the issue of removal of Chief Minister Narender Modi was still open and would be decided at the party’s national executive meeting in Mumbai later this month.

Accepting “responsibility for the defeat,” he said the BJP National Executive among other things would also discuss issues like the change of leadership at length.

In an interview with Zee News, the former Prime Minister said not removing Mr Modi after the riots was a “big mistake.” “The impact of the Gujarat riots was felt nationwide. This was unexpected and hurt us badly. Mr Modi should have been removed after the incident. But what has happened has happened. Facts cannot be changed,” he said, relaxing at his Manali retreat, where he is on a holiday.

Mr Vajpayee said he would “very much remain active” in politics while “too much should not be read” into Mr L.K. Advani being made Leader of the Opposition. When asked if he would prefer to lead a peaceful life away from politics, Mr Vajpayee ruled it out with a quip: “There has been no peace in Manali over the last two days. There is more peace in Delhi.”

On whether he was contemplating retirement, Mr Vajpayee said a lot still needed to be done.

Asked if there was still any discussion on the change of leadership in the state, the former PM responded in the affirmative. A decision on whether Mr Modi should be removed would be taken at the party’s national executive meeting in Mumbai later this month.

Elaborating on the shock defeat of the NDA in the General Election, Mr Vajpayee said: “It was most unexpected.”

“The elections were fought under my leadership. I have to accept responsibility for the defeat.”

Disagreeing with the RSS and the Shiv Sena, Mr Vajpayee said the BJP had not abandoned the core issue of Ram temple. He said the RSS had been unfair when it said the BJP had backtracked from its agenda.

The former Prime Minister said the Manmohan Singh government would not be able to complete its full term in office. There were far too many internal contradictions in the UPA. He also felt the coalition did not have national interest at heart, but was led by individual party interests.

On early elections, he said there had been two points of view, but the majority wanted the dates to be advanced. This did not eventually benefit the party. “I decided on calling early poll as the decision was left on me. When one is asked to take a final decision, everybody’s viewpoint should be accommodated.”

On personal attacks on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said the mudslinging during the campaign had not benefited the party. — UNI