http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4080840.stm Advani stays on as BJP's leader
India's opposition leader LK Advani has taken back an offer to resign as president of his BJP party. BJP spokesman Sushma Swaraj announced the decision after a crisis meeting of the party. Mr Advani offered to step down after he described Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah as "secular", causing a furore in India. Mr Jinnah is still widely blamed for the partition of India because of his drive for a Muslim homeland. Ms Swaraj told journalists that the party viewed Mr Advani's recent trip to Pakistan as a success and a major step in furthering the peace process between the two countries. 'Repugnant' A statement issued by the party after a key meeting in Delhi praised Mr Advani's "path-breaking visit to Pakistan" and "appreciated" the Pakistan government's invitation to the BJP leader to inaugurate a restored Hindu temple. But the statement also reiterated the BJP's position that "whatever may be Mr Jinnah's vision of Pakistan, the very idea of Hindus and Muslims being two separate nations is repugnant to it." "The BJP has always condemned the division of India on communal lines and continues to steadfastly reject the two-nation theory championed by Mr Jinnah and endorsed by British colonialists," the statement said. Mr Advani had been upset that the party has not backed him and taken a position on his comments in Pakistan. During his six-day visit to Pakistan Mr Advani spoke of Mr Jinnah's "forceful espousal of a secular state in which every citizen would be free to practice his own religion". Crisis His comments were strongly criticised by Hindu nationalist groups allied to the BJP and has divided his party down the middle. On Thursday, senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi joined the criticism of Mr Advani. Mr Joshi, a former education minister, said the party was passing through a "difficult stage" which must be speedily resolved - "We cannot describe Jinnah as secular," he said. Mr Joshi's comments were seen as significant because he is one of the three founding members of the BJP along with Mr Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. But Mr Advani stood behind his comments. "I have not said or done anything in Pakistan which I need to retract or review", Mr Advani wrote in a letter to a senior party member requesting the BJP to "relieve" him of the post of party leader. Mr Advani is considered one of the more hardline members of the Hindu nationalist BJP. He could still face criminal charges for his role in the destruction of a mosque in the northern city of Ayodhya by a mob in 1992. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
