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Vajpayee, Advani have same vision, says RSS

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 6. In a bid to steer clear of the "Vikas Purush" and "Loh Purush" controversy sparked by the remarks of the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh today maintained that both the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, were dedicated "swayamsewaks".

"It is not important as to who is `Vikas Purush' and who is `Loh Purush, the ideology and the vision is more important. These are the identities given to the leaders by society, people and the party," the RSS spokesman, Ram Madhav, said here.

Both Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani were "disciplined soldiers" of the party and would abide by whatever decision was taken it.

Both had the same ideology and the same vision. Mr. Vajpayee enjoyed the "liberal image" while Mr. Advani had been dubbed "iron man" for his tough stance on various issues for the past decade or so.

Pressed on the leadership issue and who would lead the BJP in next year's general elections, Mr. Madhav said the BJP had already made it clear that Mr. Vajpayee was its leader.

It was for the party to decide who should be the Prime Minister. "It is the party's prerogative. Who are we to say anything in this matter," he asked.

About Mr. Vajpayee's surprise announcement that Mr. Advani should lead the BJP in the next year's general polls, he said it only showed the level of trust and mutual respect the two had for each other.

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