Modi supports Swami’s call for Hindutva unity

Fearing a division in the Hindu vote, with the sants voicing their discontent with the state...

Fearing a division in the Hindu vote, with the sants voicing their discontent with the state Government and apparently siding with Uma Bharati’s Bhartiya Janshakti Party, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed Swami Vishweshwar Teertha’s call to all Hindu forces in the state to unite. The swami is Bharati’s guru and head of Pejawar Mutt in Karnataka. His statement subtly implied that Bharati could reconcile with the BJP.

Taking a cue from this, Modi lost no opportunity to welcome the swami’s statement and said that unity in Hindutva and of the nationalistic forces is necessary for development and stability in Gujarat. Modi said this before going to the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in Ahmedabad.

On Wednesday, BJP president Rajnath Singh had said that the swami’s suggestions were very “relevant” and that the party would discuss it at the highest level. Sources from the BJP said that Modi had sought the swami’s intervention as any parallel Hindutva platform would only bolster the rebels.

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Meanwhile, Modi got another pat on the back on Wednesday from senior VHP leader Ashok Singhal who said at the central meeting here that it was necessary to defeat the “pseudo-secular” and “anti-national” forces in Gujarat for the development of the state. Singhal also said that he was confident Modi would manage to do it.

VHP members have been unhappy with Modi’s autocratic way and his perceived softening on the Hindutva agenda. In fact, VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia had earlier gone to the extent of saying that the VHP will not help Modi in the election campaign.

Swami Visweshwar’s timely interventions, the possibility of Bharati’s return to the BJP, and Ashok Singhal’s timely pat couldn’t have come at a better time for Modi. With campaigning just about to surge full steam ahead, a combined Hindutva force can only be good news for Modi.

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