In VHP country, BJP’s Friday flip-flop

Emerging from a closed-door meeting held at former chief minister Keshubhai Patel’s residence in Gandhinagar this morning, where other rebel leaders like Gordhan Zadaphia and Suresh Mehta were present, former Union minister and MP Kashiram Rana told reporters: ‘‘I don’t believe Jinnah was secular at all.’’ Zadaphia, too, shared the same opinion.

The two emphatically told reporters by 5 pm there would be a written statement.

But as events in Delhi took a different tack, the leaders here were forced to change their stand. By the time Rana left Gandhinagar and reached Circuit House (Annexe) in Ahmedabad, he was a changed person.

‘‘I have not made any such statement,” Rana told reporters in Ahmedabad — even as his earlier statement that Jinnah was not secular was being played on some news channels.

‘‘Wait till 5 pm, we will issue a written statement,’’ Rana again said.

Encouraged by the fact that BJP leaders had taken an anti-Advani stand, VHP strongman Pravin Togadia too welcomed the statements issued by Rana and Zadaphia.

However, by the time Advani withdrew his resignation, the U-turn was complete. And the hope that the Advani episode could help them hit back strongly at Modi came crashing down.

When contacted in the evening, Rana said, ‘‘We are not issuing any statement now as there has been a happy ending.’’ When asked about his earlier statement, Rana said: ‘‘That was in the morning. Now, all that has become irrelevant.’’

Togadia too refused to comment. ‘‘I have expressed my views about Advaniji. I do not wish to make any comment on the BJP (Gujarat),’’ he said.

The anti-Modi camp admitted that its oust-CM movement has suffered a body blow due to the recent episode. ‘‘This could have been avoided. Look at the way in which the CM himself avoided making a single remark. This will harm our cause no end,’’ said a rebel leader on condition of anonymity.

The fact that Modi did not utter a word on the issue ever since the controversy erupted has set tongues wagging in Gujarat. While some believe Modi should take a stand in favour his mentor Advani, who has stood by him during his worst days, anti-Modi MLAs like Ramilaben Desai had issued statements that the CM should take a stand for the sake of the Hindutva cause.