Advani calls Jinnah 'a secular leader'

NDTV: "The attempt at a makeover for hindutva hero L K Advani, who is keen to shed his past in Pakistan, is almost complete. Today, in Karachi, the BJP President went to pay his respects to the founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah, describing him as a secular leader.

"Jinnah is one of those who created history. He will be remembered as a great man," said Advani. Ironically, Advani has been a strong critic of the two-nation theory over the years. It was his hardline views against Pakistan that had made him the darling of the RSS.

But his comment earlier this week, describing the demolition of the Babri Mosque as "the saddest day" of his life, has made the Sangh Parivar uneasy with the doublespeak.

"I don't want to comment on individual statements he has made, but people here are upset. When he comes back, all these issues will be clarified," said RSS spokesman Ram Madhav.

Even in Advani's old school, St Patricks, where he went to relive some old times, there were not many who were prepared to forgive and forget. "I feel very bad to see that a product of our school was instrumental in such an extremist movement," said Anisa Mumtaz, Teacher, St Patricks.

Far away from maintaining the delicate equilibrium between the RSS and BJP relations, Advani has tried his best to recast himself. But it will be a big challenge for him to continue to stick to all the views which he has aired here in Pakistan, once he returns back to India."