Larger NDA in mind,BJP puts Hindutva on back burner

BJP's reluctance to come out in open support of 'Hindu terror' has created unease within the party.

The BJPs reluctance to come out in open support of people linked to Hindu terror Swami Aseemanand is one example has created unease among some sections of the party,but the dominant view is the focus should not be diverted from the issue of corruption which has helped in keeping the UPA on the backfoot.

Unlike in the past particularly after the arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur in connection with the Malegaon blasts there was no clamour to make a big issue out of the arrests of sadhus and the leakage of investigation details.

The only exception was a mention about Hindu terror by BJP chief Nitin Gadkari in his address at the national executive.

In the closed-door session,Gadkari spoke in detail about attempts to defame the RSS and its leaders such as Indresh Kumar.

But the text of his speech made available to the media merely pointed out that within the Congress,there are elements who try to play with the sensibilities of majority community by blowing up the threat of peripheral groups to rake up the so-called Hindu terrorism.

Gadkari had also attacked the UPA for compromising the war on terror by undermining the threat from one group and demonising the other.

Sources said during informal conversations,some national executive members such as Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Seshadri Chari told Gadkari that the issue of saffron terror should be discussed at the meet.

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Gadkari,however,told them that the party would not like to shift focus from corruption and that it saw the revelations as a ploy by the government to divert focus.

Hence,there was no discussion on Hindu terror.

Sources said the party also did not want to be seen as harping on hardcore Hindutva issues,wary that such tactics would come in the way of its ambition to expand the NDA.

On earlier occasions like after Pragya Thakurs arrest,we saw many members wanting to raise the issue. This time,no one at the meeting spoke about it. It is good if we can keep on attacking on corruption and highlight and speak about development and good governance, a national executive member said.