A day after RSS Sarsan-ghchalak K S Sudarshan likened politics to prostitution and signalled that the rift between the BJP and RSS over Advani’s Jinnah remarks will widen, RSS ideologue and former spokesman M G Vaidya not only attacked the BJP president for withdrawing his resignation but criticised the party for rejecting his decision to quit.Vaidya said it showed that BJP leaders were in ‘‘total agreement’’ with Advani’s views on Pakistan’s founder.‘‘The BJP leadership should have accepted his resignation and could have asked him to continue till further arrangements were made. But they preferred not to proceed on this path and rejected his papers. This clearly showed that whatever views Advani expressed in Karachi and other places in Pakistan, the BJP leaders were in total agreement with him,’’ Vaidya said in his weekly column in Marathi daily Tarun Bharat.Vaidya’s criticism of the BJP came a day after the pro-RSS daily carried an editorial praising Advani and attacking Sangh leaders for getting involved in a public debate over the issue.In its editorial, Tarun Bharat wrote: ‘‘Anyone and everyone is rushing before the camera. Even Sangh stalwarts. This is not only surprising but regrettable. Advani’s contribution isn’t less. leaders like Togadia used foul language to criticise him. How can anyone support RSS spokesman Ram Madhav’s habit of talking to the media daily? Nobody is trying to talk to Advani before making such statements. All this is baffling.’’But Vaidya, in his column, questioned BJP leaders who ‘‘were expected to come clean on the issue—whether they agree or disagree (with Advani’s views). A confusion still prevails (over Advani’s remarks) in minds of thousands of people, particularly Hindus.’’The question that remained unanswered in minds of party activists, he said, was that if the image and prestige of BJP has suffered while defending Advani.‘‘Though the dust has probably settled, the issue has not been addressed. It was not expected from Advani since he is a matured party activist and sticks to his words. Also he had not bothered to consult any of his party colleagues before quitting the party post,’’ Vaidya said.He said Advani could have easily blamed the media for presenting distorted facts like any other clever politician but did not do so. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma had also endorsed Advani’s views, he pointed out.On support for Advani from NDA leaders George Fernandes, Nitish Kumar and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, he said: ‘‘But endorsement by them is not relevant as BJP leaders were expected to come clean on the issue—whether they agree or disagree (with his views). It is for BJP to assess the gains and losses after the Advani episode but the fact remains that many Hindus, who are expecting a lot from BJP have been greatly disappointed.’’On ‘Akhand Bharat’, Vaidya claimed many Muslims in the country are still in favour of unification. ‘‘When two Vietnams and Germanys can unite, why not India and Pakistan? Berlin Wall was dismantled not by the government but by the people living there,’’ he said.
