The Hindu : National : Modi: RSS puts a condition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004

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National

Modi: RSS puts a condition

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16. Moves in the Bharatiya Janata Party for the ouster of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, gathered momentum today after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) virtually gave a no-objection signal, although, with one condition — that his exit should not be linked to the riots in Gujarat two years ago and the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

This morning the joint general secretary of the RSS in-charge of the BJP affairs, Madan Das Devi, met the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, for nearly about an hour.

Mr. Devi is believed to have conveyed to Mr. Advani that the RSS would have no problem with a change in the chief ministership in Gujarat.

Later, the RSS spokesperson, Ram Madhav, told The Hindu that Mr. Devi conveyed to Mr. Advani that ``on the issue of a leadership change in Gujarat the RSS has no role to play and it was for the BJP to take a decision.'' However, ``our limited observation was that we do not think that the Gujarat riots should be blamed for the party's defeat (in the Lok Sabha elections) ... the two things, leadership change and the defeat in the Lok Sabha, should not be taken together.''

This development follows the statement by the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, listing the Gujarat riots as one of the main reasons for the party's electoral rout, and that Mr. Modi's ouster would be discussed at the party's national executive committee meeting in Mumbai.

Mr. Vajpayee's remarks led to a spate of consultations in the party and the party president, Venkaiah Naidu, stated that Mr. Modi's exit would not be a subject of discussion at the executive committee meeting, but Gujarat affairs ``would be discussed separately''.

Today, the party vice-president and spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said the Gujarat issue could be discussed among senior party leaders ``on the sidelines of the executive committee meeting.''

``There is no question of the party refusing to accept the views of Mr. Vajpayee (`Vajpayeeji ki baat na manane ka sawal hi nahin hai'), who continues to be the tallest leader of the party.'' He said the Gujarat problem would be ``discussed separately or at the meeting of party presidents and general secretaries immediately after the executive meeting.''

It is known that the RSS was annoyed with Mr. Modi when he raised power tariff for farmers against the wishes of the RSS-affiliated farmers' association in the State. With 12 of 26 Lok Sabha seats lost by the party in Gujarat, the demand of a considerable number of MLAs and senior State leaders who want Mr. Modi out has gained strength.

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