Today, not only did national Vice-President Kailashpati Mishra offer an unconditional apology and took refuge behind the proverbial ``printer's devil'', but also denied allegations that general secretary Govindacharya was responsible for the gaffe.

Later, while blaming ``part-time translators'' engaged by the central office for the mistake, Mishra cautioned senior dissident leaders from making an issue out of it and even hinted censure by the central disciplinary action committee.

``If these leaders are not satisfied with the working of party leaders and its president, they are free to leave and form their own organisation, but under no circumstances will they be allowed to vitiate the party discipline,'' he said. However, Mishra was evasive when newsmen pressed him withquestions on who was ``directly responsible'' for the derogatory references to Bhumihars. All he said was that he was busy electioneering in Rajasthan, and therefore did not get time to go through the offensive material.

But senior dissident leader Yashodanand Singh, MLC and member of the National Council, was defiant and ``dared him to expel'' them from the party. He said, ``We went to the media only after the party president Kushabhau Thakre failed to intervene and set things right''.