Date:09/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/09/stories/2005040910280400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP's remarks unfortunate, says BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 8. The BJP State unit on Friday termed unfortunate the Telugu Desam Party's criticism of its stand on Hindutva and Ayodhya.

Addressing a press conference, the former Union Minister, Ch. Vidyasagara Rao, and the BJP MLA, G. Kishen Reddy, sought to play down the widening gap between the two parties, saying there was nothing new in the BJP referring to Hindutva and Ayodhya.

"The meeting in Delhi was important and the party leadership thought it fit to reiterate its known stand and ideology. There was no special emphasis on the two issues," they said.

Evasive on ties

Yet they were evasive on questions relating to the party's future relationship with the TDP and whether there would be an electoral alliance with it in the municipal elections.

"We have already made it clear that district units will have the freedom to decide on the alliance."