Vajpayee won’t rise to VHP Hindutva bait

Vajpayee, in Bangalore to inaugurate the 90th Indian Science Congress, said the BJP was preparing for the coming Assembly polls to encash the gains it made in Gujarat. He also avoided a categorical response to the February 22 deadline announced by the VHP for the Government to hand over the undisputed land it acquired from the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas at Ayodhya. ‘‘It is their stand. Everyone knows what their stand is,’’ he said. When asked if the VHP had ‘‘gone too far’’ on the temple issue, he said, ‘‘I don’t think so.’’

The BJP, on the other hand, chose to focus on semantics rather than the issues being raised. Party spokesman Sunil Shastri faulted VHP leaders for their language and said they should not use the kind of words they were using against Vajpayee. ‘‘Vajpayeeji is not just a BJP leader, he’s also the prime minister of the country.’’

On Hindutva, Shastri said the PM had only referred to the apex court’s observation on the issue. Hindutva was ‘‘broad, grand and all-encompassing, as defined by Swami Vivekanand….The BJP fully endorses Vajpayeeji’s view.’’

On the VHP’s charge that the Centre was doing nothing to pave way for the construction of a temple at Ayodhya, Shastri said: ‘‘I’m sure the Government will take the right step at the right time.’’ The Government had held talks with VHP leaders earlier and the discussions would continue. ‘‘Our role was that of facilitator in the Ayodhya movement and we have played that role.’’

Meanwhile, in Kanpur, Bajrang Dal national convenor Prakash Sharma has criticised BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for advocating construction of a Ram Mandir only after the court verdict and said that the party would have to face dire consequences for adopting this attitude.