This Nagapur gang won’t allow BJP to function

Anil Narendra

The internal bickering between Sangh and Bhartiya Janata Party has come to fore. The issue is not whether Nitin Gadkari is at fault or or he should resign, but the issue today, is whether the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh would allow BJP to function as an independent political party or not. This reminds me of an old idiom, which was used by a Sar Sangh Chalak, probably it was Guru Golwalkar, who had said that BJP is like a carrot horn, if it sounds, blow it, if not, eat it. The situation today is just the same. If both the Sangh and the BJP are finding themselves in difficulty, they cannot blame others for it. How difficult it has become in the present circumstances to politically protect Gadkari, can only be realized by the fact that his uncouth statement has created a storm in the party. Earlier, it was only Ram Jethmalani, who was opposing him, but now there is open revolt in the Party. The BJP leadership must realize that it is not Congress, where decision of the Gandhi family is final. Here the final words come from the Sangh. That is why, in spite of allegations, the Sar Sangh Chalak, Mohan Bhagwat is bent upon giving clean chit to Nitin Gadkari. It doesn’t mean that Gadkari is clean, if a Chartered Accountant of the Sangh certifies on the basis of financial technicalities that he had not committed any financial irregularity. Financial Analysts bring out or cover shady corporate dealings on technical basis. Every one knows that chartered accountants resort to various tricks to prepare balance sheets. So, the question is, if the accounts of Gadkari are in order, then why he is afraid to wait for the investigation report of government agencies. Had Gadkari and Sangh that much of self-confidence, he should have resigned from the post of Party President and waited for the report of the government agencies. In fact, this is what Sangh and BJP have been accusing the Congress leaders of. We can understand the dilemma of Shri Lal Krishana Advani, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Singh. The BJP leadership had made massive arrangements to raise issues in the Parliament ranging from coal block allocation to LPG, Herald House controvery and Robert Wadra issue. Party leaders has also made announcement to this effect on number of times. But, now, the Opposition may loose its sharpness of its attack on the government. In view of revolt within the Party over Gadkari issue, the position of the Party has further deteriorated. If sources are to be believed, then the Congress is also not in favour of Gadkari relinquishing the post of the President before the Parliament Session. UPA Government is having high expectations from this session about improving its functioning and the image. Government strategists, in any case want to make this session successful so that there could be some improvement in the environment. This was also the objective of recent cabinet expansion. Now it is quite clear that Gadkari has the special blessings of the Sangh. It was the directions from Nagpur, that a regional level leader of Maharashtra was suddenly appointed to the top Party post for a period of three years. From the day one, his style of working had become controversial within the Party. Even then, preparations have already been made to give him second term as the Party President. For this, the Party has even made necessary amendment to its Constitution, so that technical hurdles in the path of Gadkari could be removed. People often ask as to why the BJP is unable to present itself as an alternative to the Congress, who is passing through a very difficult phase? Even in a favourable atmosphere, why there is no body ready raising the slogan ‘Bring BJP, save the country’? Why? I think, one of the biggest reasons for this is the interference from Sangh. The Sangh is not allowing the BJP to function, at least not politically. That is why an industrialist is being defended shamelessly. We feel sorry to say that greed has increasingly seeped up in the Sangh and Gadkari has become a medium for it. This is the reason that in spite of successfully running governments in six States, BJP has failed to become an alternative to the Congress. No doubt, Gadkari or any other leader cannot be adjudged guilty by just accusations, but to how many people would you explain that the allegations being made against him in view of his Poorti Group, are baseless? Morally, people on high political posts usually relinquish their posts after serious accusations are made against them, till they are proved innocent. BJP also follows such traditions. Even Lal Krishna Advani acted in this way when his name was linked to hawala scandal. Similarly, Madan Lal Khurana and Uma Bharti adopted the same course. But, these bickering have unmasked the Sangh. Under the pressure from Sangh, leaders like Sushama Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have come to the rescue of the Party President, but Advani registered his opposition by not joining hands with them. Not only this. Sangh’s reactionary face has also come to the fore. What was the compulsion that made Sar Sangh Chalak Mohan Bhagwat to join the fight? The Sangh had never done this before? We believe that if BJP wants to move forward as a political party, then it will have to completely stop the interference of the Sangh. The Sangh was not formed to conduct politics. It should do the task which has been mandated to it. We must get rid of this gang of Nagpur.