Old age poses no problem: Atal

Dehradun, Sep 9: Veteran BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today felt that his old age may pose problems in his physical functioning but that would not come in the way in his commitment to his principles and ideology.

In his customary brief address at the conclusion of the National Executive here, the octogenarian leader said the nobody could consign the old to the dust bin, in an oblique reference to a spate of newspaper articles speculating about the old leaders making way for the generation next leaders.

Expressing happiness over the presence of youths in big numbers at yesterday's rally was not just a good augury but it also was a challenge to the BJP to meet their hopes, aspirations and expectations, he said.

The party would meet their expectations and come out with appropriate solution to all challenges under the leadership of Rajnath Singh, Mr Vajpayee added.

BJP President Rajnath Singh, on his part, said that Mr Vajpayee and L K Advani will continue to be the inspirational figures to the party and there was no question of dispensing with them even if they were to remain aloof. Uttaranchal BJP State President Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said India was no Europe to pack off the the elderly to the 'old age home'. ''They will remain heads of the family'', he said.

The party would meet their expectations and come out with appropriate solution to all challenges under the leadership of Rajnath Singh, he added.

UNI