New Delhi:
Another invitation has not reached BJP patriarch LK Advani, this time one from an RSS-backed foundation that organised a function today to mark 40 years of Emergency.
BJP president Amit Shah and other party leaders were invited for the function held at Delhi's Mavalankar Hall, but not Mr Advani. In April this year, Mr Advani, seen as a founding father of the BJP, had not been invited for a celebration of the party's 35th foundation day.
That time the BJP had said that a call was made to Mr Advani's residence and the invitation was conveyed to a member of his staff.
LK Advani had led a section in the party that had attempted, unsuccessfully, to scuttle the move to pick Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for last year's national election.
Two months after the election, Mr Advani was removed, along with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi, from the BJP's top decision-making group, its parliamentary board. They were transferred to what was derided by the Opposition as a "retirement home" - the Margdarshak Mandal, a panel meant to provide guidance and mentoring.
The 87-year-old former Deputy Prime Minister caused a political flutter last week when he said in an interview to the Indian Express that he fears a repeat of the Emergency, when the Congress government jailed Opposition leaders and imposed severe curbs on the media.
The remarks were interpreted by rival parties as a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger," Mr Advani said, adding, "I do not see any sign in our polity that assures me any outstanding aspect of leadership. A commitment to democracy and to all other aspects related to democracy is lacking."
"Advani ji was referring to institutions rather than pointing towards any individual," BJP spokesperson MJ Akbar had said.