Ceasefire: PM begins talking to RSS

The two RSS leaders had especially flown over to the Karnataka capital on the BJP president’s invitation. The two sides expressed concern at the differences that had cropped up between the Vajpayee Government and the various arms of the Sangh parivar on economic as well as other major issues. They also agreed, it is learnt, that reports of these differences, which were mainly “ideological” in nature, had been blown out of proportion by the media and had inflicted enough damage to the twosides.

Both the sides agreed that these contradictions could only be managed by establishing “samwad” (communication). “It is only through continuous interaction that these differences can be resolved,” the leaders felt.

Interestingly, Sudarshan was present at the venue when Vajpayee delivered the national executive meeting’s valedictory address in which the latter observed that while consultations between the party and the Government were desirable and necessary, the Government’s decision was final and ultimate.

Signs of a thaw in the relations between the Government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had become visible even earlier. At the end of winter session of Parliament, Vajpayee reportedly sent Industries Minister Sikandar Bakht to meet Sudarshan to explain the Government’s compulsions in getting the Patents Bill passed in Parliament.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member K R Malkani, who had emerged as a bitter critic of the Government’s decision to pass the Insurance and PatentsBills, and senior bureaucrats of the Industries Ministry were also present in the meeting.

Vajpayee’s refusal to blame the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for the recent outbreak of violence in Gujarat, and his insistence on an international conspiracy to destabilise the BJP-led Government at the Centre, are also being seen as indications of this exercise.

“But the need for a dialogue in order to manage these contradictions can only be meaningful if there is a follow-up action,” observed a senior BJP leader.