SC ruling on 2002 riots great relief to BJP, says Advani

"I have not seen any political person maligned in the way Modi has been. In the political history of India, there hasn't been such misinformation propaganda against any other political leader," Advani told reporters at the airport here.

Describing the Gujarat chief minister as an outstanding leader of the BJP, capable of discharging every responsibility assigned by the party, Advani said it was "good that the Supreme Court did not accept or subscribe to the misinformation campaign against Modi."

"Good governance (shushasan) and honest administration provided by Modi government in Gujarat is one rarely seen in any state or country," he said.

Advani said the country-wide 'yatra', to be undertaken by him will focus on corruption and also on the government's failure to check black money.

"The government has not done enough to bring blackmoney stashed away abroad back to the country. This creates doubt in one's mind whether this is due to the presence of some people in the government, whose money is stashed abroad," he said.

In a relief to Modi, the Supreme Court today refused to pass any order on his alleged inaction to contain the 2002 Gujarat riots after the Godhra train carnage and referred the matter to the magistrate concerned in Ahmedabad for a decision.