Sangh afraid to take credit — Thackeray

But, Thackeray said, Sudarshan did not surprise him like he has surprised the nation. “This is not unexpected,” he said, using some choice Marathi expletives, “after seeing how the BJP is going the Congress way as far as the Muslims are concerned. One day they might even say that the new structure should house both a mosque and temple.”

Reminding the country how he was the first to accept responsibility, he pointed out, “Even Vajpayee had expressed remorse over the demolition. None in the Sangh Parivar had the guts to come forward and accept responsibilty. They have always been a timid lot.”

According to him, the BJP has been increasingly trying to appease the minorities since October when Bangaru Laxman called for efforts to get closer to the Muslims. “From that day to the ceasefire the BJP seems to be getting more and more like the Congress,” he said.

Meanwhile, the VHP which is holding its state convention at Ulhasnagar fought shy of the issue. “He (Sudarshan) may have been misquoted or quoted out of context,” claimed the state VHP chief Ashok Choughule who was similarly stumped for answers on the Centre’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire in the Kashmir valley.

The party’s national secretary, Balasaheb Naik, however, admitted: “Today there is a lot that is happening in the BJP and the Sangh Parivar which needs serious introspection. We are also unhappy about the way things are moving.” He refused to list out the undesirables or spell out how the VHP would take these issues up with the Centre.

Both Naik and Choughule were however firm about one thing. “The mandir will be built at the same spot. The courts cannot sit in decision on what are the aspirations of millions of people,” pointed out Naik.