BJP leaders uneasy on 'love jihad', govt formation in Delhi

Statements by Yogi Adityanath and Laxmikant Bajpai on 'love jihad' have added to the chagrin of some leaders

The controversy over 'love jihad' and attempts by the party's state unit to form a government in Delhi by purportedly offering Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs money have left some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leaders embarrassed.

There is also disquiet among senior leaders about the manner in which the BJP has inducted leaders with dubious antecedents from rival political parties in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.

The Delhi episode has particularly galled at least three senior leaders. These leaders had blessed the efforts of the Delhi BJP unit to form a government, but they hadn't expected such a mess would be created out of it. Late last month, home minister Rajnath Singh had gone on record stating the BJP would not indulge in horse trading to form a government in Delhi.

Statements by such leaders as Yogi Adityanath and Laxmikant Bajpai on issues such as 'love jihad' have added to the chagrin of some leaders. On Tuesday, senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu distanced himself from Adityanath and Bajpai's comments on the minority community.

On the question of 'love jihad', Naidu said in an interview to a news channel that Hindus and Muslims have to live together and that community leaders should sit together to resolve any differences. The Sangh Parivar is of the view that Muslim youths entrap Hindu women to marry them, as part of a strategy.

However, Naidu suggested these could be isolated incidents. Naidu said he didn't agree with Bajpai's comments that 99 per cent Muslims were involved in crimes such as rape. "Rape and terror have no religion. I definitely disagree with him. I am very clear. The government is very clear," the minister said.

Naidu said he knew the party and the government's mind on this as he is a senior functionary of the party and a former BJP president.

Notably, it's not just BJP leaders such as Adityanath and Bajpai, but ally Shiv Sena, too, continues to rake up the issue. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena on Wednesday said 'love jihad' was part of a "global conspiracy" to destroy Hindu culture.

"Hindus in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand are angry about this issue and he (Adityanath) is voicing their anger," the editorial said. It also quoted Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat that Hindu girls needed to be made aware of traps like 'love jihad'.

A veteran party leader said the takeover of the party by extreme right-wing elements such as Yogi Adityanath was kept in check during the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government.