Joshi throws his weight behind Advani

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshitoday stood firmly behind L K Advani, who upset a section ofthe party by tendering an apology to Sonia Gandhi for aparty-appointed task force report accusing AICC chief and herlate husband Rajiv of having accounts in Swiss banks.

Joshi, a known bete noire of Advani, praised him,saying the apology shows the "decency" of the senior leaderand added that the move would strengthen the party''s campaignagainst black money.

Dismissing the perception that Advani''s apology willweaken the BJP''s campaign against the UPA over the blackmoneyissue, Joshi said, "This will strengthen our campaign as itshows his decency."

BJP had appointed the task force on unravelling theamount of black money stashed by Indians in foreign banks andways to bring it back.

The report had alleged that Sonia Gandhi and formerPrime Minister Rajiv Gandhi were among Indians who held Swissbank accounts.

This had led Sonia Gandhi to write a letter to Advanidenying the allegation.

Sources said in the letter, Gandhi had said thatneither she nor her husband held Swiss bank accounts.

In his reply to the Congress President''s letter,Advani expressed regret of her name and that of her latehusband being mentioned in the task force report.

However, Advani also stated in his reply that theGandhis should have denied this publicly when there weremurmurs that names of her family members could figure in thereport. PTI TGB