Mud baths, courtesy VHP

It8217;s getting tiresome, this fraternal war. After a flurry of very public attacks on the BJP-led government8217;s policies and its leadership, VHP international working president Ashok Singhal has zeroed in on the PMO. Brajesh Mishra, goes the latest version, aired loudly at the most recent meet-the-press, is the spoiler. Singhal would have us believe that Mishra singlehandedly divides the parivar, separating family members otherwise joined at the hip. It is Mishra, says Singhal, who ran the NDA government during those crucial 15 days in March when the shilapoojan was in progress at Ayodhya and issued 8216;harsh8217; orders that 8216;damaged8217; the PM8217;s image. And, if Singhal is to be believed, the PM didn8217;t even know. Are Singhal8217;s fulminations against Mishra more of the same or do they imply the blunting of the VHP8217;s personalised targeting of Vajpayee in the recent past 8212; is not the question here. It is, instead, why must the nation bear with them as the VHP does conspicuous battle with the BJP, dragging the prime minister8217;s institution in the mud?

It is generally speculated that the VHP is attempting to squabble its way back into the spotlight. It wishes to set the agenda, in time for the upcoming round of assembly polls and before the next general elections. For the VHP, it is believed, it is a fight for relevance 8212; it must force its agenda back centrestage or accept its unimportance. So Singhal calls for Mishra8217;s removal, though not in so many words, but doesn8217;t stop at that. He demands a 8216;resolution8217; of the Ayodhya issue and so what if the government had put it on the backburner. He carries on with the refrain of trifurcation of J038;K and so what if it flopped miserably at the hustings in the recent polls. Basically, the VHP is flailing about, desperate to be heard.

Unfortunately, we do not have the option of ignoring the VHP8217;s pitiful exertions. Singhal8217;s insinuations against the PM and his office cannot be left unanswered. In all this ugly muckraking, some dirt has been flung at the prime ministerial institution. All effort must be made to ensure that none sticks.