Riots bring BJP-VHP differences to fore

AHMEDABAD, Aug 9: Perceived for long by everyone as two sides of the same coin, the BJP and the VHP in Gujarat now seem to be at loggerhe...

AHMEDABAD, Aug 9: Perceived for long by everyone as two sides of the same coin, the BJP and the VHP in Gujarat now seem to be at loggerheads. Tension is building up between the two with the BJP Government trying to distance itself from its erstwhile saffron partner and, in the process, the VHP finding its influence over the Government diminishing.

Though the tension was always there, it is the public utterances by both the parties during the recent communal disturbances in Ahmedabad that has brought to fore the larger tussle. When Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya confirmed the involvement of VHP and Bajrang Dal men in two incidents, he also said, 8220;Those close to us think that just because we are in power they can do anything and get away with it.8221;

Earlier, the VHP, in a strongly-worded memorandum to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, had alleged that Hindus were being victimised by police. Then came State BJP general secretary Gordhan Zadaphia8217;s statement complaining that the Congress was linking the party with VHP and Bajrang Dal.

Explaining the VHP stance, State president Jaideep Patel asserted, 8220;We are for Hinduism, and we will oppose those working against Hindus, whether it is the BJP or the Congress.8221;

Speaking about the Ahmedabad violence Patel said, 8220;The Home Ministry got misled by police officials acting over-confidently and in favour of the Congress. Otherwise, the incidents could have been avoided. Police officials and the Home Department took it lightly; these were pre-planned incidents.8221;

Patel alleged that some policemen were hand-in-glove with the Congress and anti-socials, who had tried to create trouble on July 14 during the Rathyatra. 8220;Shoot-at-sight should have been ordered on July 20 itself when the trouble began and the arrests should have been made earlier. Everywhere the action was delayed,8221; he said.

Differences between the BJP and the VHP surfaced when the State Government converted the Minorities Board into a full-fledged corporation with a special corpus fund some months ago. Later, the Home Ministry and the VHP came to loggerheads over police postings and transfers. And then came the Ahmedabad violence. 8220;We have already registered our protest against giving the board a corporation status. Against this, the State Government has indeed agreed to set up a Gau Sewa Aayog, but we will demand that the Aayog be given a ministry status,8221; asserts Patel.

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The BJP had spoken of converting the board into a corporation when it first assumed power in 1995, but the proposal was shot down by VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia. VHP sources said Togadia prevailed upon the Government not to 8220;try any such misadventure.8221; The VHP also had a say in police postings. Political expediency ensured that the board became a corporation, while governmental compulsions ensured policemen were moved only for policing considerations.

Minister of State for Home Pandya denied there is any problem between the BJP Government and the VHP, but parried further questions on the issue. At the same time, he maintained that the Government has acted and will continue to act objectively. An IAS officer remarked, 8220;The Government is removing its crutches.8221; But the VHP nurses a sense of betrayal. Said a VHP leader, 8220;We made the party what it is today. Haren Pandya used to have fafdas8217; and chai8217; with us. But now, as our memorandum to the Chief Minister says, Hindus are humiliated by the same Government.8221;