Date:26/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/26/stories/2007092662561600.htm

National

Modi would win like the Indian team: Advani

Special Correspondent

Visits Somnath temple on the 18th anniversary of rath yatra

AHMEdABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani on Tuesday congratulated the Indian cricket team on its success in the ICC World Twenty20 and predicted similar “brilliant victory” for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the coming State Assembly elections.

Mr. Advani, who visited Somnath temple to offer prayers on the 18th anniversary of his “Ram rath yatra,” told journalists at Keshod that the match was very thrilling till the last ball. He refrained from making any reference to the dissident BJP leaders in the State but said the way the Indian team defeated Pakistan, Mr. Modi too would “score a century” and win the coming elections.

Even as the BJP remained shell-shocked at veteran leaders such as the former Chief Ministers, Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta, and the former Union Minister, Kashiram Rana, sharing a dais with Congress leaders in Bhuj on Sunday and pouring venom on the Modi administration, the party’s State unit president, Purshottam Rupala, said disciplinary action against the dissidents was not the party’s priority.

Mr. Advani, who later attended several functions in Gandhinagar, his Lok Sabha constituency, briefly referred to the Ayodhya temple issue. He said he always wondered that if the first Congress government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru could undertake the work of reconstruction of the Somnath temple, why could not the governments since then construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said it was to create an awareness on the Ram Janmabhoomi temple he undertook the “rath yatra” from September 25 in 1990 and since then had without fail, offered prayers at the Somnath temple every year on this day.

To go on fast

Mahamandaleshwar Viswambhar Bharati of the Bharati Ashram here announced his decision to go on an indefinite fast from Wednesday. He said his fast would continue till all those who had “bad mouthed” about Lord Ram issued a public apology. He castigated the UPA government for filling an affidavit in the Supreme Court questioning the existence of Lord Ram and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who has “hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.”

The Akhil Bharat Sadhu Samaj, a wing of the sangh parivar, has extended support to Bharati’s indefinite fast during which “Akhand Ramdhun” would be organised at the ashram.