Veteran BJP leader L K Advani, who created a flutter yesterday with his apprehensions of Emergency again in India, today clarified that it was not aimed at any individual but said he was against “one-man shows” in political parties and asked leaders to be modest like Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Arrogance breeds authoritarianism. It is very sad. Today’s leaders should be modest like Vajpayee,” Advani told Aaj Tak, according to a statement by the channel.

Asked if he feels that a dictatorial trend in political leadership has emerged, Advani said, “I have always been against this one-man shows in political parties.” He said, “Vajpayee was a tall leader with successful record but I never heard someone at that time saying Vajpayee is India and India is Vajpayee.”

In another interview to India Today, Advani also said, “anyone who comes to power doesn’t want to lose it” and warned that the voter will teach a lesson to anyone who “abuses power”. He also said that the best safeguard against mischief is the voter. “Right,” he said when asked whether the Indian voter will teach a lesson to any politician who may have delusions of power or a desire to abuse his power.

Clarifying his controversial remarks on Emergency, Advani said, “I did not mean any individual when I made that statement. I am opposed to all kinds of dictatorships.” He said, “Vajpayee was a tall leader with successful record but I never heard someone at that time saying Vajpayee is India and India is Vajpayee.”

Referring to his remarks to the Indian Express where he said that, “at present, the forces that can crush democracy are stronger” was made against the backdrop of the present context, the BJP patriarch sought to dismiss any speculation.

“I do not know whether I used stronger. I simply said strong….what surprises me and what distresses me is that those who have imposed such a drastic Emergency in the country do not have any sense of guilt for that. It is this that distresses me,” he said.