New Delhi, Oct 09: Observing that he has never been a candidate for the Prime Minister's job, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said he was sure that Atal Bihari Vajpayee would continue to lead the country for many more years. Asked whether with his discharge in the Babri Masjid demolition case, the way has been cleared for him to move on to become the Prime Minister, Advani said on a BBC World programme, “I have never been a candidate for the job".
Answering a wide range of questions during the programme to be telecast tomorrow, Advani went on to add, "I have never been a candidate for even being a minister in the government. And I think that this country has been very fortunate for having Vajpayee as the Prime Minister for the last over five years and God willing I am sure that next year he would get the renewed mandate and he would continue to lead the country for many more years." Asked whether the CBI would be allowed to appeal against his discharge order by the Rae Bareli court in the Babri Masjid demolition case, Advani said, "I am sure you will appreciate that I cannot reply to that. Because firstly CBI is not with me and secondly it is for the CBI to decide." Seeking to dispel apprehensions that he may influence the CBI against an appeal, Advani said, "If I had tried to influence the CBI why should this case be continuing, when every executive government has the authority to withdraw the case it want to. Bureau Report