Modi cold-shoulders VHP bandh in Gujarat

Rajiv Pathak, Rohit Bhan - IBN Live
Thursday, July 3, 2008 (Ahmedabad)
There were incidences of sporadic violence across the country on Thursday after a nationwide bandh call given by the saffron brigade.While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whole-heartedly supported the strike, in most parts in its ideological laboratory Gujarat, it distanced itself from the bandh call.Though the party claims that it was because of preparations for Friday's rath yatra, there are others who believe Narendra Modi was trying to send a message to the VHP on who decides what in his state.Gujarat, the jewel in the BJP's crown, took the sting out of the party's bandh. Shops and businesses were open while the schools functioned normally in Gujarat.A small group of VHP workers did try and force shopkeepers to shut shop but few heeded their call.It was fallout of the divide between the two arms of the Sangh Parivar. The state BJP refused to support the bandh because of Friday's rath yatra of Lord Jagannath - an annual event in Ahmedabad's calendar for the last 130 years.''The state unit of the BJP has discussed it with party president Rajnath Singh. After consultation, it has been decided not to be part of the bandh call in view of the rath yatra,'' said Vijay Rupani, spokesperson, Gujarat BJP.But notwithstanding these assertions, it was clear that Chief Minister Narendra Modi was trying to send a signal on who rules Gujarat.The VHP cadre were hardly active during campaigning for BJP candidates during Assembly elections, but Modi still won. Party sources said that by distancing itself from the bandh call, the chief minister was reinforcing that message.The VHP echoed their differences with the BJP in the state.It is their own stand. Let them do what they want to do. We as a strong Hindutva force feel strongly about the issue,'' said Raju Thakkar, president VHP, Ahmedabad.The BJP is not giving up on Amarnath issue in Gujarat yet, but the state unit says it won't need the VHP's support when it begins its agitation.Clearly, the bitterness in the Sangh Parivar in Gujarat is far from over.

The VHP bandh was called as a show of strength to morally support the Hindus of Jammu & Kashmir and to warn the Muslims and their Hindu political supporters in the rest of India that riding roughshod on Hindu feelings will cause a backlash. Modi has betrayed the Hindutva cause by not participating in the bandh.