NEW DELHI, FEB 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party disowned the election poster showing Sikh Guru Gobind Singh ``in the background'' of leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, though refusing to apologise for it. Consequent to this announcement on Thursday BJP party workers have been directed total avoidance of its use for electioneering.On Wednesday the Congress spokesperson had revealed to media persons a the poster, the print line showing issuance by the BJP's Central Office in Delhi, emphasising that the calendar projected the right wing party's lack of deference towards faiths other than Hinduism.
In its lightning palliative bid, the BJP denied that the calendar ever had any official approval.
It was apparently printed by a private party. Barring a cassette with the BJP theme-song, the party's central office had not issued any election material, a spokesman maintained.
A brief statement said: ``Our attention has been drawn to a calendar which has become controversial. ``This calendar was issued withoutreference or approval of L K Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee. On their advice, all party workers have been instructed not to use the calendar.''
As the press briefing ended a delegation of the Delhi Sikh Pratinidhi Sabha reached the party office. They shouted slogans and displayed banners and the offending poster to the television cameras - before being invited inside for a meeting with BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu.
Apart from the withdrawal of the poster, the delegation demanded a public apology from the BJP which was rejected.
The Congress said the calendar was an insult to the Sikhs - their Tenth Guru had been `overshadowed' by the portrait of the BJP leader the Congress said.The Congress also petitioned the Election Commission for disqualification of Vajpayee and Advani from the polls for disparaging religion.
Earlier BJP general secretary Venkaih Naidu challenged Congress leaders to a debate with the BJP on the performance of Congress governments over four decades.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
