BJP shows a brave face to hide its Best face

Although the BJP put up a brave face after the Supreme Court’s scathing remarks today, party sources said that the leadership was clearly rattled by the first ever indictment of the Modi government by the nation’s highest court.

BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tonight to discuss the possible fall-out. As for Modi, he telephoned Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and M Venkaiah Naidu. Sources said Modi pointed out to them that the whole issue was ‘‘legal’’ and the state Government could put up an effective defence.

But it’s not going to be that easy. For the record today, Naidu’s immediate response to any suggestion for a resignation by Modi was a firm “No.” Most leaders felt that even from a purely legal angle, the evidence of the Gujarat Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police would be crucial to Modi’s future.

With the SC signalling today that from now on, the Modi government’s role in riot justice will be under its scrutiny, party leaders are worried when the next indictment—or embarrassment—will come.

Defending Modi on the eve of a bitterly fought assembly election in an atmosphere charged with communal passion was one thing. But as a permanent headache in the capital could be a costly affair for a ruling party and the Prime Minister who has a string of international obligations over the next few months.

As of now, however, there was little ambiguity. Said Naidu: ‘‘This is no indictment…it is your interpretation. There is no need for Modi to resign. The Gujarat Government would take note of the observations made by the apex court and try to act accordingly.’’

When it was pointed out that the court had gone to the extent of saying that the Gujarat Government should quit if it couldn’t protect its citizens, Naidu shot back: ‘‘You are taking one sentence. You are not quoting what the court has said before and after it.’’

Were today’s proceedings an embarrassment to the party? Naidu said: ‘‘Not at all. We take them in a positive way. The Supreme Court has made some observations and we will have to examine them. We take them in a positive way.’’

When asked about the SC view that the Best Bakery appeal was ‘‘eyewash,’’ Naidu said: ‘‘The BJP does not have a tradition of giving a running commentary on what courts say.’’

RSS spokesman Ram Madhav was more vocal—and more indirect. ‘‘The court has said Gujarat Government should quit if it cannot punish the rioters,’’ he said. ‘‘This is applicable to all governments. It applies to all state and central governments. It applies to the 1984 riots as well. Who has exonerated the accused? It is a magistrate, not the state Government.’’