In the backdrop of some prominent party leaders making controversial statements in front of the media, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Wednesday advised the cadres to exercise caution while making TV appearances.
Advani's remarks came at the meeting of BJP office-holders held in New Delhi.
"He advised the party leadership and cadres that they should be more cautious about TV appearances and about who should represent the party on news channels and in front of the press," a BJP leader told PTI.
Advani reportedly said in the meeting that the statements made by its leaders had a major influence on voters, especially those from the urban areas who were avid TV watchers.
He added that some BJP leaders seem to assume that just because they are senior in the hierarchy, they can speak to the media on all issues.
Party leader Jaswant Singh had told a news channel last week that if he was faced with the same predicament as the Kandahar hijacking again, he would 'of course' take the same decision of freeing terrorists to rescue hostages.
Similarly, after the Mumbai terror attacks, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had triggered a fresh controversy by saying some women with 'lipstick and powder on their face' were indulging in demonstrations and abusing politicians.
Naqvi's statement had put the BJP in an embarrassing position. Later, the party distanced itself from the remarks and said they were his personal views.
A few months ago, Sushma Swaraj had said some Congress leaders from Indore were involved in terrorist activities and the BJP had no proof to back the statement. Swaraj was forced to state that these were her personal views.
The problem of double-speak in the saffron party goes much deeper.
Jaswant Singh had put Advani in an embarrassing situation when he told the media that the latter was present when the decision to rescue the IC-814 passengers by releasing five terrorists was taken. Advani had said in his autobiography that he was not present in the meeting.
Another senior leader Yashwant Sinha differed from the BJP's stand on Tibet. He had said that nothing less than complete freedom should be given to Tibet, an argument which goes further than the Dalai Lama's statement of full autonomy.
Earlier, firebrand leader Uma Bharti spoke against Advani in full media glare and had to face expulsion from the party.
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