Bitten by BJP, VHP not shy; takes another dig

The day after getting a hard rap on the knuckles from BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) took one step backward...

The day after getting a hard rap on the knuckles from BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) took one step backward and another forward.

Seeking an end to the controversy generated by the criticism of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by VHP working president Ashok Singhal, VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia today said his senior colleague had made the remarks only ‘‘as an ardent supporter of the BJP’’. But he added in the same breath that India needed a leader like Ariel Sharon, George W Bush or Shivaji to combat terrorism, implying that the VHP’s criticism of Vajpayee’s handling of terrorism still stands.

Naidu, had, yesterday, issued a statement advising VHP leaders to ‘‘think twice’’ before criticising the leadership of the Government and the party. But Togadia insisted that ‘‘Singhal’s criticism was out of a genuine concern. He has been a supporter, rather, an ardent supporter of the BJP for so many years. If such an ardent supporter expresses concern, BJP should introspect. For us, the issue ends here.’’

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Togadia’s prescription to deal with the threat of terrorism: ‘‘put up Narendra Modis all around (Jagah-jagah pe Narendra Modi khare kar denge).’’ He went on to say that ‘‘we need leaders like Ariel Sharon, Bush jr. and Shivaji to tackle this problem.’’ What qualified the Israeli President, the US President and Shivaji to share this honour was their firm response to Islamic terrorism. When a journalist asked if Vajpayee could match them, Togadia responded, ‘‘He can, if he wishes to.’’

When another journalist sought to know if Modi was prime minister material, Togadia replied, ‘‘I would not say anything.’’ He said that thanks to the ‘secular media’, ‘I have got a third leader in Modi after Ashok Singhal and Bal Thackeray.’’

He also denied that the RSS had asked the VHP to bury the hatchet with the BJP.

‘‘Nobody has talked to us,’’ Togadia said. RSS spokesman Ram Madhav, when reached over the telephone at Bangalore, told The Indian Express, ‘‘We are happy that the VHP has put a lid on the entire controversy.’’

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He maintained that the RSS did not bring about a truce between the Parivar outfits. ‘‘We believed that people in both organisations were seasoned enough to deal with the matter.’’

This controversy set aside, Togadia attempted to stir up another by demanding a ban on the Tableegh Jamaat, Ahil-e-Hadis and Dawat-e-Islami besides the ‘‘three lakh madrasas in the country’’, arguing that they were ‘‘injecting the jehadi virus into the minds of Muslim youngsters and thus preparing the ground for militant Islam in the country.’’ Unless this happened, the country would be ‘‘moving in the direction of a civil war,’’ he warned.