Two months after he was named vice-president of the BJP in Delhi, theatre director Aamir Raza Husain left the party red-faced after he slammed Narendra Modi on a television show, holding him responsible for the 2002 Gujarat riots in which hundreds of Muslims were killed. Husain also heaped praised on L K Advani, calling him "the only statesman" in the country.

He resigned on Tuesday after his remarks created a furore in the party. He also called Modi "a divisive leader, not inclusive leader".

A Padma Shri recipient, Husain was inducted into the core team of the Delhi BJP by its president Vijay Goel ahead of the Assembly elections in the state later this year.

On Tuesday, Goel issued a statement claiming that Husain had said he should not have made remarks that "caused hurt to a senior leader of the party" and that his resignation had been accepted.

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But Husain contradicted Goel, saying he had never made any statement regretting his remarks on a CNN-IBN show on Monday night. "I stand by what I said. By writing I should not have hurt a senior leader, I meant Vijay Goel who is a dear friend."

Husain told The Indian Express: "I stand by my comments. Modi was responsible for the riots which killed over 2,000 people.

L K Advani is the only statesman in the country... If we need an option against the misrule of the Congress party... under a liberal leadership in the country, the only option left is L K Advani.

Modi is a divisive leader, not an inclusive leader. Advani, on the other hand, is leading the BJP. Only under his leadership will the BJP be able to draw a large section of Muslim and liberal votes."

source:http://www.indianexpress.com