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This is an archive article published on July 24, 2002

145;Our pracharak vs your pracharak146;

The only man who did not join the Gujarat debate in the Lok Sabha yet stole the thunder was Shankersinh Vaghela. He was the talk of the day,...

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The only man who did not join the Gujarat debate in the Lok Sabha yet stole the thunder was Shankersinh Vaghela. He was the talk of the day, with Gujarat BJP MPs constantly reminding the Congress benches, 8216;8216;we are glad you have one of our pracharaks8217;8217; and the Opposition closing ranks to snap back 8216;8216;why are you so scared of him8217;8217;.

The new Gujarat PCC chief made a quiet entry chatting with Congress leader Kamal Nath. But as he occupied a seat towards the middle, the BJP trained its guns on its sworn enemy. Kirit Somaiyya fired the first salvo, reading out a 1997 letter in which ex-Gujarat PCC chief Amarsinh Chaudhary had levelled charges at Vaghela, the then CM, before withdrawing support to him. 8216;8216;They Congress talk of rehabilitation. They have just rehabilitated him.8217;8217;

The titters died the moment Mulayam Singh Yadav rose to his defence. 8216;8216;Why are you so scared of him?8217;8217; But the BJP wouldn8217;t let Vaghela or the matter rest. 8216;8216;Kamal Nath should know Vaghela has also been a pracharak. We are very happy a Hindutva man has joined the Congress.8217;8217; That was Bhavnabehn Chikhalia, BJP MP from Junagadh, taking a swipe.

Her colleague, Jayabehn Thakkar, raised a storm when she referred to Vaghela as 8216;8216;our pracharak8217;8217; and 8216;8216;our Bapu.8217;8217; The Congress was on its feet, saying she should apologise for calling him Bapu. That Vaghela8217;s presence was unsettling was evident when even L.K. Advani couldn8217;t resist having a go. 8216;8216;Vaghelaji was with us. He is with you now. It doesn8217;t matter. These things happen.8217;8217;

As for the man himself, he just grinned. Never joining the discussion, probably thinking of ways to level scores past and present.

 

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