New Delhi: Accusing the media of a conscious effort at vilification of Narendra Modi, senior BJP leader L K Advani on Sunday said that no political leader in India's history has been as "systematically and viciously maligned" as the Gujarat chief minister. 

"I have often felt that in India's political history no leader has been as systematically and viciously maligned as Gujarat CM Narendra Bhai Modi. Do not these reports also reveal a conscious effort at vilification?" Advani asked. Advani was referring to media reports on former President A P J Abdul Kalam's book 'Turning Points' where he discusses his visit to the state after the 2002 riots. 

Writing on his blog, Advani said that he was surprised to see reports in the media where then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee "was being found fault with for trying to protect the Narendra Modi government". 

Advani said Vajpayee's casual query to Kalam: "Do you consider going to Gujarat at this time essential?" has been read by the media as the PM wanting to stop the President from going to Gujarat. 

He also rued that no journalist has reported the compliments paid to Modi by Kalam in his book. 

"Dr Kalam has also referred to apprehensions he had heard that his visit may be boycotted. Dr Kalam's actual experience was totally different. Modi and his government enthusiastically cooperated with Dr Kalam. Yet no newsman thought it worthwhile to report these complimentary observations of his!" he said.  PTI