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Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

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BJP, VHP workers clash

Manas Dasgupta

VHP `celebrations' over Advani's resignation the provocation Parivar's demand for Mr. Advani's resignation is "natural justice,'' says Congress

AHMEDABAD: BJP workers clashed with Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers, hitherto their comrade-in-arms, "celebrating" L.K. Advani's resignation as BJP president. Twenty VHP activists were detained by police at Ghatlodiya locality in the city following the clash. They were released later.

The "celebrations" were held in several places in Gandhinagar, Mr. Advani's parliamentary constituency. Shouting pro-Hindu slogans VHP workers came out on the streets and burst crackers at Paldi, where the outfit's Gujarat unit headquarters is located, Shahpur and Ghatlodiya.

The State unit of the Hindu Shiv Sena took out a rally welcoming Mr. Advani's resignation and demanded that he also quit his Lok Sabha membership.

VHP State Marga Darshak Chaitnya Shambhu Maharaj imposed a "ban" on Mr. Advani's entry into Gujarat. He said that Mr. Advani was no longer a "Hindu leader" and that the VHP would oppose his entry into the State whenever he planned to visit his constituency. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was the "only Hindu leader'' in the BJP and it was time the party decided to "return to the Hindu card.''

A stunned BJP leadership in the State declined to be drawn into the fresh controversy within the Parivar. Newly appointed BJP State president Vajubhai Vala, who also is the Finance Minister in the Narendra Modi Government, said that Mr. Advani's resignation was the fallout of a "misunderstanding" among the Parivar units.

Mr. Modi could not be contacted. The Chief Minister's office said he was busy with official meetings.

A section of the worried dissident leaders, who recently complained against Mr. Modi to Mr. Advani, went into a huddle at the residence of the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel. But the outcome was not known. A dissident leader said they only discussed the fallout of Mr. Advani's resignation.

Pradesh Congress spokesman Hasmukh Patel described the Parivar's demand for Mr. Advani's resignation as "natural justice.'' He said Mr. Advani, who was elected from Gandhinagar "riding on the shoulders of the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists," was asked to resign by the same people.

"This is the problem of aligning with the communal elements who cannot stand any deviation from their fundamentalist outlook."

Mr. Advani's resignation and the vehement opposition to his remarks by the Parivar units have cast a shadow on his possible visit to Gandhinagar on Thursday to attend a function at Rupal village organised by the Gujarat Electricity Board.

"Anti-Gujarat, anti-Patel"

Gujarat VHP general secretary Dillip Trivedi called Mr. Advani "anti-Gujarat and anti-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel" and demanded that he resign not only as Gandhinagar MP but also from the Somnath temple trust. He "appealed" to the people of the State to "boycott" all functions of Mr. Advani till he tendered a public apology for "insulting Hindus and Indians."

He said by resigning as party president, Mr. Advani might have done some "favour" to the BJP but did no good for the country.

He should take a holy dip in the Saryu, have a "darshan" of Ram Lalla and then tender an unconditional apology to the people of the country if he wanted to be pardoned for his sin.

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