The battle lines between the pro-RSS and non -RSS factions within the BJP on Tuesday got sharper with the party president managing to ward off another attempt to dislodge him. A RSS protege, Nitin Gadkari, has been under constant attack ever since decks were cleared for a second term for him as the party president.
The leader from Maharashtra, who has again courted controversy by comparing Swami Vivekananda with Dawood Ibrahim, had a busy Tuesday as he explained his position to party leaders even as his main detractor Ram Jethmalani upped the ante claiming he was contacted by senior party leaders like Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha for the removal of Gadkari. Jethmalani claimed he has written about these matters to party veteran LK Advani on 2 November.
‘I am sorry to have to write this to you. I am doing it according to a firm conclusion arrived at by Jaswant, Yashwant and Shatrughan and myself. We are of the opinion that the continued Presidentship of the party by Shri Gadkari is a disaster for the nation and the BJP,’ wrote Jethmalani. He added Gadkari should be asked to resign forthwith and the party will be betraying the nation if they waited on this matter.
Though RSS did not intervene in the matter openly, its stand on the issue became public, when Rakesh Sinha, director of India Policy Foundation, an RSS-funded think tank, castigated non RSS elements on facebook. ‘Pseudo fight against corruption by a section of BJP leadership is serving whose cause? Reminding some veterans (spent forces/rootless news makers): have you heard any occasion in the history since the formation of RSS, the man or the group who tries to contest or counter RSS could save its existence? The turn and twist being given by a section of BJP men on Gadkari issue must be defeated, such people must be identified, their real faces are blinkering in the mirror now,’ posted Sinha.
RSS support for Gadkari became evident by evening as news of his continuance as party president filtered out. During the day, Gadkari kept himself busy as he met both leaders of house, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, at their residence. Also, Sangh pointsman S Gurumurthy made a presentation before the core committee absolving Gadkari of all financial irregularities.
Later in the evening, at a meeting of the party core committee and general secretaries, the BJP once again backed its president. ‘There is no legal and moral wrong and Nitin Gadkari is ready to face any inquiry, the party has full faith in him,’ said the joint statement by Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. The statement was critical of leaders who have been airing their view in public, as both leaders said this hurts the image of the party. The meeting had its share of drama as Gadkari and Advani skipped it. Gadkari skipped the meeting as his conduct was being debated, and Advani, whose position on the matter had come into public domain.
The leader from Maharashtra, who has again courted controversy by comparing Swami Vivekananda with Dawood Ibrahim, had a busy Tuesday as he explained his position to party leaders even as his main detractor Ram Jethmalani upped the ante claiming he was contacted by senior party leaders like Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha for the removal of Gadkari. Jethmalani claimed he has written about these matters to party veteran LK Advani on 2 November.
‘I am sorry to have to write this to you. I am doing it according to a firm conclusion arrived at by Jaswant, Yashwant and Shatrughan and myself. We are of the opinion that the continued Presidentship of the party by Shri Gadkari is a disaster for the nation and the BJP,’ wrote Jethmalani. He added Gadkari should be asked to resign forthwith and the party will be betraying the nation if they waited on this matter.
Though RSS did not intervene in the matter openly, its stand on the issue became public, when Rakesh Sinha, director of India Policy Foundation, an RSS-funded think tank, castigated non RSS elements on facebook. ‘Pseudo fight against corruption by a section of BJP leadership is serving whose cause? Reminding some veterans (spent forces/rootless news makers): have you heard any occasion in the history since the formation of RSS, the man or the group who tries to contest or counter RSS could save its existence? The turn and twist being given by a section of BJP men on Gadkari issue must be defeated, such people must be identified, their real faces are blinkering in the mirror now,’ posted Sinha.
RSS support for Gadkari became evident by evening as news of his continuance as party president filtered out. During the day, Gadkari kept himself busy as he met both leaders of house, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, at their residence. Also, Sangh pointsman S Gurumurthy made a presentation before the core committee absolving Gadkari of all financial irregularities.
Later in the evening, at a meeting of the party core committee and general secretaries, the BJP once again backed its president. ‘There is no legal and moral wrong and Nitin Gadkari is ready to face any inquiry, the party has full faith in him,’ said the joint statement by Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. The statement was critical of leaders who have been airing their view in public, as both leaders said this hurts the image of the party. The meeting had its share of drama as Gadkari and Advani skipped it. Gadkari skipped the meeting as his conduct was being debated, and Advani, whose position on the matter had come into public domain.