PM, RSS step in to calm mantri who became santri

Worried over the buzz that relations between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who quit as HRD Minister after the Rae Bareli verdict, have touched a new low, the Prime Minister and RSS have stepped in and asked the two leaders to meet and stamp out all such talk.

BJP sources today said Atal Behari Vajpayee, who’s in the US, spoke to Advani and told him to ensure people don’t gather the impression that all’s not well at the top in the BJP.

Advani later spoke to Joshi and they are likely to meet once the latter returns from Allahabad, his constituency, tomorrow.

Vajpayee apparently told his deputy that he would decide on Joshi’s resignation on his return from the US. He also told him to ensure the party spoke in a united voice.

Meanwhile, RSS joint secretary Madan Dass Devi, who deals with the BJP, has also spoken to both Advani and Joshi, advising them to end the speculation that one section of the party is opposed to the other.

In Allahabad today, Joshi took time off to unwind after being given a rousing welcome: ‘‘Aaj kal mantri nahin, santri hoon (I am not a minister but a guard these days).’’

Hundreds of his supporters assembled at the railway station to welcome ‘‘the leader’’, showering him with rose petals and jostling to garland him. And there were slogans too: ‘‘Atal Joshi Zindabad… Joshi nahin akele hain, unke peeche chele hain (Joshi is not alone, his supporters are backing him).’’ It was obvious to all that Advani’s name was deliberately being kept out.

Overwhelmed by the reception, Joshi turned to the media: ‘‘The people who have come here and the enthusiasm they haave shown is an an indication of their anger against the wrong and baseless charges heaped on me in connection with the Babri demolition. We will not only fight a legal battle to challenge baseless charges levelled for political reasons but will also take our fight to the people.’’

While Joshi did not say anything on withdrawing his resignation — except ‘‘let the PM return from his foreign tour’’ — his supporters and party leaders like state BJP chief Vinay Katiyar, also being charged in the Babri case, requested him to reconsider his decision.