VHP celebrates, BJP numb

The Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party leaders found themselves in a piquant situation on Tuesday.

Even as Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists were bursting firecrackers to celebrate the decision of L K Advani to quit as BJP president, the party leaders did not know quite how to react. Advani represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Parliament.

Both BJP workers and Vishwa Hindu Parishad volunteers had jointly burst crackers when Advani's rath yatra passed through Gujarat several years ago en route to Ayodhya. But, on Tuesday, VHP volunteers clashed with BJP workers in some parts of the city.

Even in Gandhinagar, VHP volunteers shouted slogans against Advani. Police had to intervene and control the situation. In other parts of the state, too, VHP workers staged demonstrations, while BJP leaders preferred to remain silent. State BJP President Vajubhai Vala could not be reached despite several attempts.

State Congress President Arjun Modhvadia was, however, ready with his soundbyte. "It appears as if LK Advani is in too much of a hurry to become the prime minister, and so has been making such statements. A person who spearheaded the Rath Yatra and Babri Masjid demolition, one who was responsible for the communal riots, today says that the demolition was the saddest day of his life. This cannot be logically explained," Modhvadia said.

He added that the BJP needed to explain how Jinnah was secular if the Congress and its ideas were branded pseudo-secular by the BJP.

"We really do not need to expose Advani. His own people are doing it. The RSS and its affiliated organisations have always terrorised good people. Today, it is Advani's turn to face their ire," Modhvadia said.

When informed about the VHP celebration with firecrackers at Ghatlodia and surrounding areas, BJP State General Secretary Jayantibhai Barot said, "This is the season of marriages and firecrackers are bursting everywhere and only VHP leaders can say something about the bursting of firecrackers."

The normally busy BJP state party office at Khanpur remained empty throughout the day as very few party members visited the office. Almost all party leaders remained tightlipped about the resignation.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia, who had attacked Advani describing him as a traitor for his statements in Pakistan, welcomed his resignation.