In a statement to BJP general secretary Sanjay Joshi, Advani said he stood by his statements made in Pakistan during his week-long visit to the country.

The BJP leader remained unfazed in the face of criticism from within his own party rank and file as well as allied groups loosely called the Sangh Parivar. At the centre of the controversy were his remarks on Jinnah.

"I have not done and said anything in Pakistan that I need to review," he said in the one-page letter. The tone of the letter suggested he had decided to step down while still in Pakistan.

During his visit to Jinnah's mausoleum Saturday, Advani praised the Pakistani leader as a "creator of history" and his statements before the country's constituent assembly in 1947.

He said Jinnah should be given his due for espousing "the forceful espousal of a secular state in which while every citizen would be free to pursue his own religion, the state should make no distinction between one citizen and another on grounds of faith".

These complimentary comments triggered fierce protests from Hindu hardliners, especially the party's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Returning from his visit to Pakistan Monday, Advani brushed aside all criticism and described his visit as "an unforgettable week in my life".

Advani said he welcomed a debate on the remarks he had made during his visit to Pakistan.

Senior VHP leaders Pravin Togadia and Acharya Giriraj Kishore described Advani as a "traitor" and welcomed his decision to resign from the post.