The Big Brother has decided to step in to set the house in order. The RSS is planning to play an active role to avoid collision between members of the Parivar and the government.There is a sense of alarm over the way the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh are heading for a confrontation with the BJP-led Government at the Centre. The controversial statement of VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia on the disputed Ayodhya land and Iraq and a prompt somersault by the Parishad are pointers to the things to come.As BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, accompanied by his five general secretaries, called on RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat at the Sangh headquarters at Jhandewalan here this morning, it was clear that the two sides would operate with greater co-ordination. RSS joint general secretary Madan Dass Devi, who liaises with the BJP, sought to downplay the meeting when he told The Indian Express that ‘‘we always act as the moderator. There is nothing new about it.’’ This is, however, in contrast with the stated position of the RSS that Parivar outfits deal with one another independently. RSS spokesman Ram Madhav tried to reconcile the dilemma. ‘‘We are keen on ensuring that we do not send signals that we are a divided house. At the same time, we feel that all Parivar members should establish their own channels with each other, and instead of depending upon us, appreciate each other’s viewpoint and act according to their own goals as well as limitations,’’ he said.The 75-minute meeting, which would be followed up by more, touched a wide range of issues, including Ayodhya, disinvestment, restructuring of BJP state units and coming elections. BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said, ‘‘There are no differences between us on the issue of construction of a big Ramlalla temple at the Ramjanmabhoomi. We only differ on the mode. According to the NDA agenda, it has to be either through a negotiated settlement or a judicial process.’’ To be fair to Devi, the meeting was planned a week ago, well before the Togadia episode. Two, it was billed as just an introductory interaction of BJP office-bearers, at the initiative of general secretary Sanjay Joshi, with Bhagwat, the second-in-command of the RSS. Bhagwat, being groomed by the Sangh for donning the top post of Sarsanghchalak, is in charge of the VHP.Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his deputy, L K Advani, have made another tactical move along side. They have picked up Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi to act as a buffer between the Government and the VHP. Given his proximity to VHP working president Ashok Singhal, he is obviously their best bet on this count. With the RSS working at one end and Joshi at the other to restrain the VHP, the Government is gearing itself to face the Dharam Sansad. At a time when the BJP is keen on playing the Hindutva card during the polls, a head-on collission with the VHP would be the last thing it would want.
