In an interview to The Indian Express, Advani also disclosed he had requested former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to enter Rajya Sabha after the latter decided not to contest for Lok Sabha but he declined.

“While the addition of the Asom Gana Parishad, Indian National Lok Dal, Asom Gana Parishad, Rashtriya Lok Dal, and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to the NDA is satisfying, I do think that other parties might be willing to come along (post-election),” he said.

On the absence of a national agenda for governance which the BJP had said would be unveiled before the first phase of election, Advani said: “Our (BJP) office-bearers considered this matter, and the unanimous view of our party and the JD(U) was that we do it later. Most probably, it would be brought after the elections.”

Asked about a renewed debate on shuchita (probity) in the party, especially in the wake of attempts to bring in individuals with tainted background into the party fold, Advani said: “I am emphatic that in the name of expanding our influence, we should not compromise with probity.”

Speaking on a wide range of issues, Advani admitted that there were two views in the party in the wake of the 26/11 attack. “There were suggestions that we should call for action (after the Mumbai attack). I said an Opposition should not even think of such a line because it’s only someone who is in government, and who has access to full inputs on the whole situation or the possible consequences, should take a decision.”

He slammed the UPA government response to the Mumbai attack. “The government statements kept on being repeated — that all options are open. You don’t talk about all options being open which has just one connotation in situations of that kind. If you think a certain course of action is desirable, doable, feasible, will yield results, do it. Don’t talk about all options being open.” Asked if he favoured the idea of sending troops to Pakistan, as was advocated by a section of the BJP, he said: “There’s no question of someone who’s not in government of saying anything of this kind¿ This has been my consistent stand.”

Asked if the party would call for a zero-tolerance approach policy on hijacking of planes, he said: “No country of the world determines policy in this matter in this manner and, therefore, it will depend on the situation”. He refused to be drawn into charges against him on the Kandahar hijack case, made into a big poll issue by the Congress.

On the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said: “We will think about it when we come to power. But we won’t allow our differences on the Indo-US nuclear deal to affect our determination for excellent relations with the US.”

He said that the attitude of Muslims was “changing” towards the party. “The hostility that we faced in the past is not there. It will, however, take time for them (Muslims) to become (our) supporters. There are people who are appreciative of our commitment to good governance. There are also instances like the one of highest per capita income of Muslims in Gujarat”.

On the common Muslim apprehension that the BJP willfully benefits from Hindu-Muslim polarisation in states even as it talks of an inclusive politics at the Centre, he said: “I can’t say much but incidents happen which may give rise to certain feelings. Godhra in Gujarat gets talked about a lot without realising that Godhra was something so horrendous that a reaction took place. They (reaction) should not have taken place. (Gujarat) Government should have been able to control them. But Godhra was there. And a conscious effort was made by the Central government (of the UPA) to show that Godhra was not there. That Godhra was a hoax.”

On the BJP’s failure to disown Varun Gandhi after his alleged hate speech in Pilibhit, Advani said: “When he came to see me, I told him, ‘whatever you have assured the Supreme Court, stand by it’. Why should we disown a person, a young boy, only because he made a statement which I disapproved (of)? Has anyone ever suggested to so many other parties that they should disown those who have been charged with heinous crimes? They are also included in the Union Government.”

On the generational shift in the RSS, and the Mohan Bhagwat-led organisation having decided to let the BJP take its political decisions, Advani said: “It’s a situation which I have experienced all my life. There was a short phase in between when things were slightly different and made me make some observations in Chennai. That is behind us now”.

Asked if Vajpayee and Advani were cast in different moulds or if there was an Atal-Advani continuum, he said: “He was my senior and he trusted me. This mutual trust brought us and the party to our present position. When I decided about his name for the post of PM, I felt that he has acceptability to the whole country, which I don’t have. His health today doesn’t allow him to be active. I was keen that even if doesn’t contest the Lok Sabha, let him go to the Rajya Sabha. I urged him, but he said no. Even though he comprehends everything, his inability to communicate or speak...this is a great infliction on him. His being there is a source of strength for us”.