Nagpur, June 14: Mired in bitter infighting after the poll debacle and questioned for lack of clarity on Hindutva by its leaders, BJP today came under attack from RSS which accused it of “inconsistency” on the issue and warned that shunning the core ideology will “automatically snap” its “umbilical cord” with the Sangh.
In terse comments, senior RSS ideologue M G Vaidya said, “The BJP has failed to convey the real meaning of ‘Hindutva’ to the people (in the recent elections). Probably they thought they were not deemed to climb the pedestal of power with ‘Hindutva’ line. Hence, BJP should now disassociate itself with ‘Hindutva’.”
Yashwant happy resignation accepted But “if the BJP gives up ‘Hindutva’, it will automatically snap its umbilical cord with the Sangh,” Vaidya wrote in his weekly column in local Marathi daily ‘Tarun Bharat’.
However, he said, it would not have any impact on the RSS. Vaidya asserted that “there is a big following of Hindutva and it should be adopted from the bottom of heart with sincerity”.
Narrating the history of the then Jana Sangh which later became BJP, Vaidya, said BJP had adopted Gandhian socialism, but could not stop itself from being labelled as a communal party. After the 1984 general elections drubbing, BJP again started chanting ‘Hindutva’. BJP came close to power, but could not sustain its strength.
Party leaders had no patience and almost forgot ‘Hindutva’ and its basic principles, the former RSS spokesperson said.
The party came to power again (in 1999), but after losing in 2004, it again turned towards ‘Hindutva’. BJP mentioned ‘Hindutva’ in its election manifesto in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, but it miserably failed to attract the common voters and citizens in the country,” Vaidya said.
Party leaders had no patience and almost forgot ‘Hindutva’ and its basic principles, the former RSS spokesperson said.
The party came to power again (in 1999), but after losing in 2004, it again turned towards ‘Hindutva’. BJP mentioned ‘Hindutva’ in its election manifesto in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, but it miserably failed to attract the common voters and citizens in the country,” Vaidya said.