Gujarat Events Damaged Bjp Image, Says Advani

Advani said I readily admit that the political events in Gujarat have hurt the image of the BJP.

However, he insisted that there was no way that events in Gujarat could be bracketed with those in Uttar Pradesh, where the party failed to achieve a majority in the state assembly.

The percentage of votes received by BJP in Uttar Pradesh had not changed at all, he said, adding that the performance there could be said to be below expectations. He said the BJP could not do well in the October 11 elections for ten assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh as a feeling of complacency had crept into the party's state unit after its spectacular success in the Lok Sabha elections.

In reply to another question, he said the recent agreement signed between the foreign ministers of India and China did not solve the nation's security crisis in any way. The manner in which China provided arms and nuclear assistance to Pakistan continued to pose a threat, he said.

The decrease in the country's defence budget was a matter of serious concern, he pointed out.