Enough is enough, says Vajpayee

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">MUMBAI: Evidently upset by the RSS’ efforts to downsize him politically, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday announced his virtual retirement from active politics. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The announcement, which many felt was aimed at putting his detractors on the defensive, stunned party activists assembled at the Shanmukhananda Hall here.Vajpayee said in Marathi, “ </span><span style="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">Aata bari nako. Pushkal jhale’</span><span style="" font-size:="">’ (No fresh term for me. Enough is enough). </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">His outburst came in response to slogans from the audience, “</span><span style="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">Agli bari</span><span style="" font-size:="">, Atal Bihari’’ as he stood up to speak, and took everyone by surprise. The function was held tomark the death anniversary of the founder of the Jan Sangh, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. “For the first time I am under attack from within,’’ Vajpayee lamented.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The former PMended his brief speech abruptly—almost mid-sentence—and party leaders on the dais as well as the rank and file in the audience took a few moments to register the import of what he had said.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Mumbai BJP general secretary Atul Bhatkhalkar hurriedly signalled the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ and pin-drop silence prevailed in the vast, air-conditioned hall.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Vajpayee spoke for just ten minutes, tailing off with a reference to the strident criticism heaped on him from all quarters of the party and the Sangh Parivar following the Lok Sabha defeat. Referring to the special issue of the</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Marathi weekly ‘Vivek’, which was released at the function and devoted to him by editor Ramesh Patange, the former Prime Minister said with anguish, “I am sure this special issue will offer me some protection.’’ Vajpayee, his deputy L K Advani and BJP president Venkaiah Naidu were the main speakers.</span></div> </div>