Singhal gets Sangh stick for targeting Atal, Advani

Pleased with the BJP leadership’s genuflection before it, the RSS has decided to rein in the VHP and reprimand Ashok Singhal for his re...

Pleased with the BJP leadership’s genuflection before it, the RSS has decided to rein in the VHP and reprimand Ashok Singhal for his regular outbursts against former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and Leader of opposition L.K.Advani.

Official sources said although the RSS, too, was unhappy with the BJP for deviating from both ‘‘ideology and idealism’’, the organisation’s bosses disapprove of Singhal’s strident attacks against Vajpayee and Advani. ‘‘We do not believe in attacking individuals,’’ an RSS member said.

The Sangh bosses are expected to convey their disapproval to Singhal at the RSS’ national executive meeting in Hardwar this week. Apart from 170-odd national executive members of the RSS, representatives of around 40 affiliate outfits will also attend the meeting. The BJP will be represented by party chief L.K.Advani and general secretary Sanjay Joshi. The VHP’s representatives at Hardwar will be Singhal and Pravin Togadia.

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RSS sources said the VHP leadership had been asked to tone down their anti-BJP attacks earlier too. As a result, Togadia has been less vocal of late. But Singhal has continued his tirade and yesterday declared Advani was a ‘‘stop-gap’’ president and lacked mass appeal.

However, the very fact that Singhal has referred to the need for a new BJP chief sometime in the future indicates the VHP is not serious about floating its own ‘‘Hindu’’ party. RSS sources ruled out any discussion on an earlier VHP proposal to form a new party. The BJP would remain the Sangh Parivar’s representative organisation in the field of electoral politics, and efforts would be made at Hardwar to work out a more ‘‘focussed and coordinated’’ approach among all RSS affiliates in their respective areas of operation, sources said. The RSS, which has been the main target of the ‘‘ideological assault’’ unleashed by the Left-backed UPA Government, will finalise its counter-assault at Hardwar. The ideological blueprint will then be implemented across the country.

Advani’s presence at the meeting, sources said, will send a strong signal to the BJP rank and file to work in accordance with the RSS line, and ensure the Parivar — after a period of strain and stress within — once again works in harmony.