Rath Yatra Mahajan's brainchild: Advani

Senior BJP leader LK Advani today said that the Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya was the brainchild of late Pramod Mahajan.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday said that the Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya was the brainchild of late Pramod Mahajan.

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"My idea was that of a 'padayatra' between Somnath and Ayodhya but it was Mahajan who told me that it would take a lot of time and suggested that we use a vehicle for the yatra," Advani said while speaking at Mahajan's special condolence meeting at Maharashtra BJP working committee in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Advani said earlier this year, Mahajan also suggested that he (Advani) should undertake a yatra in Northeastern India.

"Mahajan told me that I have not undetaken any yatra in the Northeast region and suggested that I undertake an aerial yatra in the region, touching places associated with the national movement in the region, like the places where Subash Chandra Bose lived for some time and Swami Vivekanand who stayed at Shillong," Advani said.

Advani described Mahajan as political manager par excellence and said he played a major role in smooth running of NDA government.

"He was head and shoulder above the rest, in terms of political IQ (intellgent quotient) and imbibed rare qualities in politics", Advani said.