Advani gets ready for Jinnah debate

NEW DELHI — Bharatiya Janata Party President L.K. Advani's remark in Karachi on Mohammed Ali Jinnah may have resulted in severe backlash from his ideological organ, the Sangh Parivar, but the former deputy prime minister is said to have done what many couldn't in India's political history — marginalise his political lineage for the sake of calling himself 'secular'.


It is being widely believed that Advani's was a calculated move to take by surprise the saffron family indicating that the BJP was prepared to outshine its ideological arm — the RSS and the VHP — that have been losing ground owing to the rise of coalition politics driven by anti-communal agenda.

Neither Advani's detractors nor his ardent admirers had expected his 'Pakistan musing' to come at a time when BJP seems worn to shreds owing to internal rivalry. But as if he was prepared, Advani remained unfazed and stood by his remarks, when he returned yesterday from a week-long trip.

He said "he was prepared for a debate and was not worried about the backlash. He did not appear repentant on his statements regretting the demolition of the Babri Mosque. He also did not seem rueful for his rejection of the Sangh Parivar's position on India as a Hindu state.

This has wreaked havoc in the BJP as well as the RSS which is gnashing their teeth in disagreement with Advani. The BJP itself seems divided over its party president's quick ideological and political makeover. So what makes Advani indulge in such a move? Many believe that the remarks are a desperate attempt to recast his image from that of a 'hardline' leader to a 'secular guide', who can take the mantle from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, if BJP comes to power.

Considering that the NDA is in tatters, it is getting essential for Advani to make the right moves so that he is accepted by his allies. "With key NDA allies like Telgu Desam and some others getting ready to abandon the NDA, it was high time Advani thought of an image makeover," said a senior BJP functionary.

It is worth mentioning that even the Congress party has called Jinnah 'secular'. Political parties, including the Left, have asserted that they were not in agreement with Advani's views on the subject. Former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has chosen to remain tacit.

Congress spokesperson Abhisek Manu Singhvi said: "We do not agree with Advani's views on Jinnah as a 'great man'. He certainly did not advocate the cause of a secular Pakistan." Advani quoted Jinnah's address at his mausoleum saying he propagated "a forceful espousal of a secular state in which every citizen was free to pursue his own religion."

Several Muslim organisations also do not agree with the view. "How can Jinnah be secular? We do not believe Advani's definition on secularism, as one has to know Advani well to believe how secular his BJP or Sangh Parivar is. If Jinnah was secular, he would not have propagated two-nation theory," said Jamait-e-Ulema Hind's Maulana Asad Madani.

Some BJP hardliners like Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi are looking at this development as an opportunity to rake up Advani's removal as party president.

Top analysts say that it would not be surprising to see Vajpayee and Advani going into exile now. They have aged and often have compromised on their political ideologies for the sake of remaining in power.

Not long ago, there was a time when BJP stood with festoon to greet Advani, but a lot seems to have changed.

Yesterday, even as senior party leaders lined up to receive Advani at the airport, VHP, Hindu Jagran Manch and Bajrang Dal activists held demonstrations outside the airport. They shouted slogans and brandished placards that read "Advani, hai, hai... Jinnah supporter, Pakistan sympathiser go back."



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