VHP launches campaign to dislodge Advani

Less than a fortnight ago, when L K Advani resigned as Bharatiya Janata Party president on June 7, Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers had gone into celebration mode, bursting crackers and taking out processions in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The VHP now wants to go one step further - dislodge Advani from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat.

On Monday, the VHP, under the banner of the Gandhinagar Constituency Matdaar Sangh, launched a frontal attack against Advani, demanding his immediate resignation as MP from Gandhinagar.

VHP leader Acharya Dharmendra, along with several other mahants led a public meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday afternoon, demanding resignation of Advani.

"Advani perhaps has forgotten that without the help and support of the mahants and the Sangh Parivaar, he cannot do anything. It was because of his relationship with the Sangh that he became so famous. The mahants will continue to demand Advani's resignation," said Acharya Madhusudanji, while addressing the gathering.

Earlier in the day, Acharya Avichaldasji opened an office of the Gandhinagar Constituency Matdaar Sangh in the Gandhinagar constituency and initiated a signature campaign by voters of the constituency, demanding his resignation as MP from Gandhinagar.

Meanwhile, several banners have come up in western parts of Ahmedabad, branding Advani as a traitor and demanding that Advani must give up his Gandhinagar LS seat, a demand that is picking up more steam by the day.

An organisation calling itself the param Pujya Santo Prerit Matdaar Sangh (a group of voters inspired by the mahants) has put up several banners in Ghatlodia, Thaltej, Chandlodia, Sabarmati, Chandkheda and other areas of Ahmedabad (all part of the Gandhinagar LS constituency), demanding that Advani resign as a member of Parliament.

The banners advise Advani to `repent' for the statements that he made during his recent visit to Pakistan, advise him to take up the cause of the Ram temple again and give up politics altogether.

Such is the intensity of the tirade that the VHP has launched against Advani, that BJP and VHP workers actually clashed with each other in some parts of the city immediately after Advani put in his resignation on June 7, only to withdraw it later.

Political observers here do not recall any earlier instance where VHP and BJP workers ever crossed swords with each other.