Moderating his comments, Rahul Gandhi suggested on Wednesday that he 'has appreciation' for P V Narasimha Rao despite his criticism of the late prime minister over the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

"Just because I have criticised someone on the issue does not mean that I do not appreciate him," Gandhi told reporters, while taking a break from his whirlwind three-day roadshow in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi's remarks came days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed Rao as a 'sanyasi in politics'.

Dr Singh had also said Rao had been his friend-philosopher-guide.

While the young leader did not take the name of Rao, the reference was apparent.

His remarks during the first roadshow that if anyone from the Gandhi-Nehru family was active in politics then, the Babri Masjid would not have fallen were seen as a broadside against Rao who was the prime minister at that time.

Gandhi's statement had triggered a controversy with the BJP as well as Samajwadi Party and the Left parties attacking him with some dubbing him 'anti-Hindu', while others said he was 'anti-Muslim'.