RSS attacks BJP for "inconsistency" on Hindutva issue

Nagpur/Ghaziabad, June 14 (PTI) Reeling under
factional feud following Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament)
poll debacle, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday came
under attack from its spiritual mentor RSS which accused it of
being "inconsistent" on Hindutva even as party chief Rajnath
Singh said he was wedded to the core ideology.

Senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ideologue M G
Vaidya said "the BJP has failed to convey the real meaning of
'Hindutva' to the people (in the recent elections). Probably,
they thought they were not deemed to climb the pedestal of
power with 'Hindutva' line. Hence, BJP should now disassociate
itself with 'Hindutva'."

But "if the BJP gives up 'Hindutva', it will
automatically snap its umbilical cord with the Sangh," Vaidya
wrote in his weekly column in local Marathi daily 'Tarun
Bharat'.

Vaidya said BJP leaders had no patience and almost
forgot 'Hindutva' and its basic principles.

Vaidya's remarks assume significance in the backdrop
of senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh's recent remarks to TV
channels that the party lacked clarity on Hindutva and BJP has
to be a current party and not a party of yesterday.

Narrating the history of the Jana Sangh which later
became BJP, Vaidya, said BJP had adopted Gandhian socialism,
but could not stop itself from being labelled as a communal
party. After 1984 general elections drubbing, BJP again
started chanting 'Hindutva'. BJP came close to power,
but could not sustain its strength.

The party came to power again (in 1999), but after
losing in 2004, it again turned towards 'Hindutva', Vaidya
pointed out.

He said BJP mentioned 'Hindutva' in its election
manifesto in recebt Lok Sabha elections but it "miserably
failed to attract" the common voters and citizens in the
country".

Responding to RSS' attack, Rajnath Singh said he will
remain wedded to the core ideology for all times to come.

"I want to put this bluntly that I still abide by the
ideology of Hindutva which I have followed ever since I
commenced my political career. And I will remain wedded to it
for all times to come," Singh told reporters in Ghaziabad. PTI
JOE
RAI
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