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Despite the all-round condemnation, the Bharatiya Janata Party has made it clear that it has no remorse over the events in Gujarat and would put all its weight behind Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
In fact, most participants at the party's national council meet in New Delhi's Talkatora stadium on Saturday emphasised that "it's important to win Gujarat. We have to vindicate our stand."
However, the party has not forgotten the bread and butter issues, dear to the common man who the party is accused of being out of touch with in recent times.
Senior leaders wanted more tax concessions from Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and sought details of measures taken to counter the drought, which has hit most parts of India.
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Indo-Pak tensions and deployment of soldiers at the border did not figure prominently in the speeches.
As expected, the meeting completely ignored the expose in the Indian Express of alleged corruption in allotment of petrol pumps.
However, senior leaders Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani failed to offer a focused message or political agenda during the meeting, which has heralded a generational change in the party.
Newly nominated party chief M Venkaiah Naidu, the controversial Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh were the only bright spots in an otherwise lacklustre affair.
Vajpayee emphasised on the need for the party to get along with people of various sections of society and the need for "some kind of harmony between the interest of the nation and the demands of the party," hinting that the party's interest is not above national interest.
Despite the generational change, it was apparent that Advani was still not ready to fade away as yet, like it seemed Vajpayee is. It was he who proposed the 'Delhi Pledge', which was unanimously adopted, to rejuvenate the party.
Party workers were told, in no uncertain terms, to emphasise - Yes, we are a party with a difference and ours is a government with a difference.
Top priority is to be given to spreading the word about the government's successes and to become a bridge between the people and the government, the document said.
After six months of deliberation, the BJP believes that party workers have acquired the mindset of a 'ruling party', which has to change, Advani said.
The Delhi Pledge candidly accepts that 'factionalism, internal bickering, scampering for positions of influence and party tickets during elections, indiscipline have impaired some state units'.
"The damage to the party's image is sometimes worsened by the breach of probity by some of our elected members," it notes.
Venkaiah Naidu, in his long speech, targeted the Congress. "The Congress is demoralised because the Vajpayee government is all set to complete its full term."
"Ours is a scam-free government. It has nothing to oppose," he said unmindful of among others the defence deals scandal, the coffin scam, the crisis in the capital market, and the now emerging petrol pump allotment scam.
Narendra Modi and Jaswant Singh were the only others the audience was interested in.
Modi's speech had its fair share of controversial points and, though predictable, impressed the audience.
"We would like to know who is supporting and feeding five-star food to the jailed accused of the Godhra carnage? Who is trying to get them released?" were among the questions he asked.
He spent considerable time convincing the audience that "there is a conspiracy to erase Godhra from people's memory."
But it was fiery orator and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj who had the last word. She said that BJP ministers, on their visit to states, should spend a few minutes with the party workers.
"Our party workers are emotional. Ministers must not ignore them. Unke aasu aapki satta cheen lenge (Their tears can snatch away your power)," she warned.
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