Gadkari downplays Advani''s apology to Sonia

Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) BJP President Nitin Gadkari todaytried to play down the apology offered by senior party leaderL K Advani to Congress president Sonia Gandhi over a reportprepared by BJP task force which alleged that she and her latehusband, Rajiv Gandhi, had accounts in Swiss banks.

"Advani wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi expressing regretif she was hurt by any such allegation or statement...

He mentioned the apology (only) in ending the letter, butmedia blew it up (by saying) that he wrote an apology letter,"Gadkari said.

The BJP chief however avoided commenting on the statementby senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani, who was one of the membersof the task force, that he (Jethmalani) was firm on theallegations even after Advani''s apology.

The task force had been appointed to find out detailsabout black money kept by Indians in foreign banks, and todiscuss ways to bring it back. The report had alleged thatSonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had Swissbank accounts.

Sonia then wrote to Advani, denying the accusation.

Advani replied by expressing regret.