NEW DELHI, 8 June 2005 — Refusing to retract the comments he made in Pakistan, former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishn Advani resigned yesterday as president of the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party. Within hours of being asked by Sangh Parivar to “review” statements he made in Pakistan, Advani called Sanjay Joshi, RSS point man in the BJP, to his residence and handed in his resignation. In the letter of resignation addressed to Sanjay, written “just before departing from Karachi,” Advani said: “I have decided to request the party to relieve me of presidency… I have taken this decision after pondering the matter very carefully… I have not said or done anything which I need to retract or review.”

The Sangh Parivar, or the conglomeration of Hindu groups, did not take kindly to Advani expressing regret over the demolition of the Babri Masjid and describing Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah as a “great man” who espoused the cause of a secular Pakistan.

Expressing support for Advani’s comments on Jinnah, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said: “Whatever has been said is being misinterpreted. His (Advani’s) remarks on Jinnah are being misinterpreted.” Vajpayee also talked to Advani by telephone from Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, and requested him to take back his resignation.

Pramod Mahajan, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and Bal Apte were among BJP leaders who were the first to reach Advani’s residence, to persuade him to reconsider his decision.

Refusing to be moved by their pleas, Advani said it would not be possible for him to continue in the post. Advani also told them that he was angry at being labeled a “traitor” for calling Jinnah secular.

Advani’s resignation seems to have opened a fissure in the Hindu camp. As Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders continued to lampoon Advani and celebrate his resignation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, BJP’s mentor, appeared ready for a climb-down.

Advani’s resignation evoked mixed reactions among political parties. While the Congress party criticized Advani, 78, for supporting Jinnah, who it said had divided the subcontinent along religious lines, BJP’s allies welcomed his remarks.