Advani defends Modi, says media maligning him

New Delhi: Defending Narendra Modi, veteran BJP leader LK Advani on Sunday accused the media of indulging in vilification of the Gujarat Chief Minister while reporting on former president APJ Abdul Kalam's book where he discusses his visit to the state after the 2002 riots.

Referring to Kalam's latest book Turning Points, Advani in his blog on Sunday said that no other politician has been as systematically and viciously maligned as Modi.

"I have often felt that in India's political history no political leader has been as systematically and viciously maligned as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Bhai Modi. Do not these reports also reveal a conscious effort at vilification?" said Advani in his blog.

Advani also said that he was surprised to see reports in the media where then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee "was being found fault with for trying to protect the Narendra Modi Government".

Advani said Vajpayee's casual query to Kalam: "Do you consider going to Gujarat at this time essential" has been read by the media as the Prime Minister wanting to stop the President from going to Gujarat.

Advani has pointed out that former President APJ Abdul Kalam has laid to rest all rumours that he was not welcomed in Gujarat after the 2002 post-Godhra riots. He says the NDA government never prevented Kalam from going to Gujarat.

He rued that no journalist has reported the compliments paid to Modi by Kalam in his book.

"Dr Kalam has also referred to apprehensions he had heard that his visit may be boycotted. Dr Kalam's actual experience was totally different. Modi and his government enthusiastically cooperated with Dr Kalam. Yet no newsman thought it worthwhile to report these complimentary observations of his!" he said.

(With additional information from PTI)

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