BJP leadership discussing with veterans issues raised by them: Gadkari

Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said today that the BJP central leadership is discussing with the party's veterans the issues raised by them about the party's unsatisfactory performance in Bihar polls and denied that he had suggested disciplinary action against them.

In a statement here, Gadkari said that party elders including L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi "are our highly respected leaders and neither I nor any other party functionary has ever shown any disrespect to them and there was absolutely no question of anyone suggesting calling for an explanation from them and not the least demanding disciplinary action against them."

"Reports in a section of the media indicating that I have suggested to the party president Amit Shah to initiate disciplinary action against them are absolutely incorrect and misleading," the Union Minister said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also against any action against dissenters.

Singh, BJP sources said on Thursday, was of the opinion Advani and Joshi have experience and have contributed immensely to the growth of the BJP, so the party should listen to them.

The Home Minister is said to be in favour of examination and analysis of what the veterans had said and decisions taken for the overall good of the BJP. Such decisions should be acceptable to all, the sources said.

Advani, Joshi, senior leaders Shanta Kumar and Yashwant Sinha had attacked Modi and Shah in the wake of Bihar debacle, saying the party has been "emasculated" in the last one year and was being "forced to kow-tow to a handful". They demanded a thorough review of the debacle.