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Atal and I have a perfect relation: Advani

Home Minister L K Advani has described the reports of a rift between him and the prime minister as 'absurd' and said he enjoyed a 'perfect relationship' with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

''This isn't the first time that writings of this nature have been seen in the press. It has been a perfect relationship over years -- over decades, rather. It still is and will always be,'' he said.

In an interview to Home TV, Advani said he met the prime minister almost daily. ''When anything strikes me, I ring him up or meet him. Similarly, he also phones me very often.''

Advani refuted press reports that his durbar was at odds with that of the prime minister. "(There is no) proxy war between (our) durbars," he said.

He also denied reports about a rift between the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership and the Vajpayee government.

''Not at all," the home minister said, "I don't see an iota of substance in these reports. The party as a whole, including the present leadership and all ministers in the government, has been playing its role as is expected.''

He had just come from a major party conclave and was more than satisfied with the confidence that was present, the minister said.

''When two of the back-benchers suggested that we say something or incorporate something in the political resolution about our allies or about Madras (All India Anna DMK chief Jayalalitha Jayaram), there was immediate disapproval from the entire party. They are absolutely, solidly with the government.''

He said there were many in the country and many outside who were unhappy with the government. The press was also somewhat hostile.

Asked how he rated the government's performance during the six months it had been in office, he said: ''Even though it's a coalition, it is supposed to be a BJP government. I think this statement has to be borne in mind while assessing how the government has fared. And if you keep this statement in mind, then I would say the government has performed reasonably well. I would not call it spectacular except with reference to a couple of achievements.''

The achievements are, Advani listed, the Pokhran tests and the solution to the Cauvery issue.

The home minister said the government's credibility was still intact, though its image has been affected by the differences between its allies. It would have been worrying if the credibility had been affected, he said.

Two factors, Advani continued, had to be considered when facing criticism about the government. First, it was not a BJP government but a coalition. Second, the arithmetic of the 12th Lok Sabha.

''Even if it had been a single party government or even suppose the BJP strength had been preponderant, say with around 220 or 230, the fact that it would nevertheless have been a coalition, comprising parties which may not wholeheartedly agree with all that the BJP thinks is right, would have created problems," he said.

Advani did not agree with the view that the government was too accommodating and tolerant in its attitude towards the allies.

Asked whether Jayalalitha and her All India Anna DMK could have been handled better, he said by and large the government's response has been 'appropriate'.

He said nobody could accuse the government of accommodating an ally to the point at which its own principles were violated. He pointed to the government's stand that Article 356 must not be abused as an example.

UNI

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