JD-U leader targets Advani for praising Modi

New Delhi, Jul 9:

leader Shivanand Tiwari today targeted L K Advani for praising

saying the BJP veteran was making a futile effort to prove Gujarat Chief Minister innocent.

"Advani is making a futile effort to prove Narendra Modi innocent," Tiwari remarked commenting on Advani's blog wherein he accused the media of indulging in vilification of Modi.

Tiwari said Advani has presented Modi as an ideal who welcomed the then President APJ Abdul Kalam to Gujarat in the aftermath of the 2002 riots and accompanied him throughout his state tour.

"By welcoming Kalam and following him like a shadow throughout his, tour Modi killed two birds in one stone - he tried to show he was innocent and also ensured that no one spoke a word against him (Modi)," the JD(U) spokesman said.

"Who would have dared to open his mouth before the President when the Gujarat Chief Minister was standing next to him," Tiwari said.

Advani had posted in his blog yesterday that no political leader in India's history has been as "systematically and viciously maligned" as the Gujarat Chief Minister.

He was referring to media reports on Kalam's book 'Turning Points' where he discusses his visit to the state after the 2002 riots.

PTI