Hanging Afzal first job if we come to power, says BJP

Referring to the religion-based quota favoured by some Congress-ruled states, he asked: “Does the Congress also want to extend reservation benefit to Dawood Ibrahim’s son?”

Egged on by chants of Jai Jai Shri Ram, Singh said questioning Ram’s existence, as the UPA had done, was like a son asking his father whether he indeed was his father. He reiterated the demand to sack DMK ministers and claimed the UPA’s inaction suggested the affidavit was a conspiracy hatched with the “tacit understanding of the Congress”.

Leader of Opposition L K Advani recalled how the Ayodhya Somnath Rathyatra was a watershed in the country’s politics and how it impacted his own personality. “There were differences on where to construct the temple but no one asked for proof of Ram’s birth,” Advani said, adding: “Even Muslim historians accepted that the temple existed and Babar pulled it down.” He alleged that ASI officials were made a scapegoat because they had actually opposed the affidavit. “Why didn’t the CBI and the Government challenged the acquittal of Coimbatore blast-accused Madani?” he asked drawing a parallel with the Afzal issue.

Saying that the Left parties and the DMK had caused political uncertainty, Advani claimed the UPA Government was on its last legs.

Not only was Hindutva the common theme of both Advani and Rajnath Singh’s speeches, Advani went a step further by praising the party president.

Amid widespread speculation of an Advani versus Rajnath Cold War, Advani said: “Rajnath Singhji has done tremendous work for the organisation as the president. He was also my colleague in the Vajpayee Cabinet, as Agricultural Minister. There he had done excellent work for the farmers of the country.”

Party insiders said Advani’s praise was “deliberate” since much as he may like to be projected leader, he would not like to be seen as leading merely a faction within the party.

Releasing a resolution on the Ram Sethu, senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi said just like the party supported the temple movement launched by Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, it would back the movement launched by the Rameshwaram Ram Sethu Raksha Manch, a collection of Acharyas and VHP activists.

The two-page resolution demands an unqualified apology from the UPA Government and that the responsibility for drafting such a “sacrilegious affidavit” be fixed. “The BJP is wholeheartedly committed to protect the Sethu as a national heritage which can easily be saved by realigning the Sethu Samudram Canal Project.”

“The UPA Government has no respect for the sentiments of Hindus, Muslims and Christians who revere the bridge as Sethu mandir, Rama Sethu, Adampul and Adam’s bridge,” read the resolution asking the Government to immediately stop dredging and take steps to assuage the hurt caused to millions.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has meanwhile been given a free hand by the party to run affairs in the state. While rebellion in the state unit has challenged Modi’s authority in the state, the BJP central leadership is firmly behind him. Former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel — patron of the dissidents — skipped the executive but the party is not unduly worried. “The dissidents have gone too far for a compromise,” a senior leader said.

Earlier, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan set the tone by describing his Government’s plan to link spots through which Rama passed on his way to exile and declare Ram Path as a monument. No one knows how he crunched numbers but BJP’s MP unit chief Narendra Singh Tomar claimed that 3,70,218 people turned up at the venue and an equal number were on the streets.