Katiyar wants to court arrest in Jammu

This new idea gripped Katiyar following a meeting with RSS chief K S Sudarshan at Bareilly yesterday. Sources said the BJP general secretary had argued during his meeting with Sudarshan that his remarks reflected the Hindutva-line in contrast to the secularist approach of a section of the party. He is in touch with VHP president Ashok Singhal too to mobilise support for himself.

‘‘I will go to Jammu, let them (J-K government) do what they can. I will face the case they have slapped on me,’’ he told The Indian Express . Asked when the visit would materialise, he said, ‘‘Let us see’’. It was implicit that he awaited a green signal from the high command.

Lashing out at the Jammu and Kashmir government, he said, ‘‘It is appalling that the Ghulam Nabi Azad government does not take note of supporters of separatist leaders shouting slogans like Pakistan Zindabad on their arrival at airports, but registers a case over an anti-terrorist remark.’’ This misuse of authority to book a leader of a national party, according to him, would boomerang on the Congress. ‘‘After all, we also have governments in some states,’’ he added. The BJP leader declared: ‘‘Vinay Katiyar never goes back on what he says. I never apologised. I only offered regrets in case my statements had created an impression different from what I had intended’’.

On being told that BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekarthe stressing on the BJP commitment to the rule of law in the context of his remarks indicated the sense of unease in the party, Katiyar said: ‘‘Who is the spokesman to say anything?’’ He explained, ‘‘I can understand the party chief saying something over-ruling me, or even the general secretary doing so, but certainly, not the spokesman.’’

Katiyar is trying hard to have his way and even exert pressure on party bosses through other members of the Parivar. But, the BJP chief is disinclined to invite a division within the party ranks, criticism from other parties aside.