Sena refuses to bestow Hindu Hriday Samrat title on Modi

Several Sena MPs and leaders said,“Hindutva is welcome. We have always pursued Hindutva,which was imbibed in us by Balasaheb.”

They said they would certainly support Modi on the Hindutva agenda,whose foundation was laid four decades ago by Thackeray.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut said,“The Modi statement – I am a Hindu nationalist – was laudable. We have always supported individuals and organisations with a Hindutva agenda. The title of Hindu Hriday Samrat was not thrust on Bal Thackeray. He earned it through his work. If people decide to bestow such a title on Modi,the party will have no objection.”

The BJP leadership dismissed the issue of title as meaningless.

Party spokesman Madhav Bhandari said,“Between 1972-75,Vajpayee was given the title of Hindu Hriday Samrat. After the riots,Vajpayee had made a heart-rending speech in Parliament. He said,Ab Hindu maar nahi khayenge….

BJP does not have to redefine its ideology or status of its top leadership every day.

In 1951,Shyama Prasad Mookherjee,who was president of Hindu Mahasabha,resigned to form Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

Many suggested he call the organisation Hindu Jana Sangh.

But he refused. His idea was Bharatiya Jana Sangh should become a forum for inclusive politics where people from different religions,castes and communities can work together.”

BJP state leaders said: “In his lifetime,Thackeray proudly looked up to Modi as the new torchbearer of Hindutva. We don’t have to explain it further to alliance partners.”