Expressing its clear disapproval of the ongoing turmoil in the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday called for an end to the present happenings but rejected any intervention by the Sangh, saying the BJP would have to themselves put corrective measures in place.

??Whatever is happening in the BJP is not good and should stop,?? RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told reporters this evening even as he contended that it was up to the BJP to tackle its problems. ??Whatever has to be done by the party to put in place a system and corrective measures, it is for them to do,?? he said contending that the political wing of the Sangh parivar was a different entity.

Bhagwat?s comments, however, is the first time that the RSS has publicly acknowledged that the BJP has been plagued with acute problems of infighting and capable leadership. He was also speaking out for the first time since the expulsion of former union minister Jaswant Singh from the BJP for his book on founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

The RSS chief had met Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajnath Singh on Thursday night for over an hour and a half. Today he also met other leaders including Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu.

Addressing a well attended press conference this evening, the RSS chief however ruled out taking over the reins of the BJP as had been suggested by BJP leader Arun Shourie, saying that he could not comment on the views of a ??senior and intellectual?? leader.

Bhagwat said the RSS had a different task to perform and it would only provide help and advice if sought by the BJP. He also conceded that the BJP was in need of corrective measures, asserting that the recent election verdict had given the party a ??jolt??. ??If they (BJP) ask for our advice, we always say yes to them. But they are better equipped to take political decisions,?? he said.

Bhagwat said the RSS did not involve itself in the BJP?s daily functioning and it was ??immaterial?? if it was worried for the party or not as it was for the BJP itself to think and decide its future. On the leadership issue, the RSS chief said, ??fifty to sixty years is the average age for the Sangh leadership and it’s for the political party to decide what should be the right age for it.??

The reiteration of a limitation on age was seen as a reference to LK Advani, who at 82 years, was projected as the party?s prime ministerial candidate. Advani has been challenged in the last few days by three insiders accusing him of lying on the Kandahar issue.

The former home minister had said that in 1999, he was not consulted about whether Jaswant Singh should fly to Kandahar to swap 3 terrorists for the 164 passengers who were hijacked on IC814. His contention, though, has been challenged by Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Brajesh Mishra.

Asked about his views on Sardar Patel, Jawarharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, the RSS chief maintained that the Sangh considered them as respected figures. ??It?s not about adopting them. We respect whoever has done service to the nation?? he said.