Sena-BJP rift widens with `pro-Muslim' stance

Sena-BJP rift widens with `pro-Muslim' stance
PRAFULLA MARPAKWAR

MUMBAI, AUG 28: Even as relations between the Shiv Sena and BJP deteriorated with the run-up to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation polls, the pro-Muslim stand adopted by the BJP in its national convention has created fresh chinks in the alliance.

``We feel that the BJP is marching the Congress way. We were stunned at the statement made by newly-elected BJP president Bangaru Laxman at the party's executive committee meeting at Nagpur. If he was developing the Muslim as well as Dalit vote bank on the Congress style, then it is very unfortunate,'' a senior Shiv Sena leader said.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray himself, in an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna, has taken a dig at the BJP which had strongly criticised the Sena over the Hindutwa issue. BJP leader Gopinath Munde had stated at Kalyan that the Sena stand on Hindutwa was not strong as it had not supported the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-sponsored bandh to condemn the killings of the Amarnath pilgrims. He added that Laxman had told the party's national executive that the issue of the Ram temple at Ayodhya was irrelevant.

``The policy of the BJP at Kalyan and Nagpur was diagonally opposite. From Kalyan to Nagpur, there was a sea change in the policy towards the Hindus,'' Thackeray had stated. Thackeray observed that though his party was not in agreement with several policy decisions taken by the BJP, he had never criticised it publicly as he was more concerned with the unity of the two parties. ``We have not been given any board or a corporation by the NDA Government. But we have still never spoken on it, or threatened to terminate the alliance,'' he added.

Thackeray felt that the stand taken by the BJP on Jammu & Kashmir was softer than the erstwhile Congress rule. On the other hand, ``we had questioned the propriety of the Lahore bus service and Samjhauta Express.''

Ever since Pakistan stepped its activities against India, the Sena had insisted that India stop playing cricket with the country and not welcome its players. ``Then Union Home Minister L K Advani had come to convince us that sports should be kept away from politics. We honoured his views. Fortunately, now the views expressed by us has become the policy of the Centre. Union Sports Minister S S Dhindsa has banned tours by the Indian cricket team to Pakistan. Incidentally, during Cabinet meetings, Dhindsa sits next to Advani, but the Home Minister has not approached or convinced him,'' Thackeray stated.

Thackeray further said that a large number of Hindus have been killed in the Valley since the BJP has been at the helm of affairs. ``The national executive of the party has criticised the Centre for the massacre of the Amarnath pilgrims. There is no point in giving a call for bandh. What we need today is effective steps to tackle terrorism,'' he remarked.