Laxman strikes a different note

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, OCT. 19. The differences within the BJP on how to project its relationship with the RSS, and especially on its views on the minorities, erupted sharply today with the party president, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, asserting that the BJP's views were ``significantly different from that of the RSS.''

Mr. Laxman's statement, made at Gurdaspur in Punjab and released by the party office here, comes close on the heels of the assertion of the BJP's ``unbreakable'' and ``historical'' bond with the RSS by the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani.

Mr. Laxman stated categorically that what the RSS chief, Mr. K. Sudershan, had said about Christians and Muslims at the RSS Agra meet last weekend ``do not represent the views of the BJP''. Mr. Sudershan was ``entitled to his views and it is up to the different sections of our diverse society to react,'' Mr. Laxman added while making it clear that the BJP did not agree with those views and had no inclination to join a debate.

Some political observers are inclined to see in this a reflection of the ``struggle at the top,'' for, after all, it is well known that Mr. Laxman was handpicked by Mr. Vajpayee for the job of party president. Mr. Laxman's ``line'' of differentiating the BJP's views from that of the RSS is being seen as an articulation of Mr. Vajpayee's line - as opposed to Mr. Advani's stance - but there are some party leaders who believe that Mr. Vajpayee is usually ``more subtle'' and would not have used the party president to fight a proxy war with Mr. Advani.

There is also the conjecture that since after Mr. Vajpayee there is no known ``soft line'' man in the BJP, Mr. Laxman may be positioning himself for that slot. But what is being conceded at various levels is that the ``struggle for succession'' to Mr. Vajpayee has begun in right earnest. Only a few days ago a senior BJP leader signalled that Mr. Advani alone would be acceptable to the party if a situation arose in which Mr. Vajpayee were to be no longer the Prime Minister.

At an informal meeting of the minority morcha of the BJP on Wednesday some plain-speaking was done with members openly saying that Mr. Sudershan's public speech at Agra had done immense damage to their attempt at wooing the minorities and undone what Mr. Laxman had attempted from Nagpur.

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