Courtesy: The Hindu

• BJP's action against ex- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister `hasty'
• Ms. Bharti's idea of new party disfavoured
• `BJP-RSS differences are only ideological'
• Pro-Hindu outfits asked not to work against one another

Mangalore, Jan 9: Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt will participate in the culmination of the padayatra taken out by his disciple and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Uma Bharti in Ayodhya on Friday January 13.

The swamiji, who will bless Ms. Bharti, will however not get involved in her political decisions.

In an informal chat with The Hindu on the sidelines of a public function organized by the Prof. M.B. Puranikara Abhinandana Samiti to felicitate educationist M.B. Puranik here on Sunday, the swamiji expressed concern over Ms. Bharti's intent to float a party.

Hindutva

"All pro-Hindu parties and organizations must be united in their endeavour to espouse the cause of Hindutva," he said.

Reiterating his stand that the Bharatiya Janata Party had acted hastily in Ms. Bharti's case, the swamiji said she had wrongly been denied a chance to fulfil her democratic right to head a party which had come to power in Madhya Pradesh on her strength.

Not willing to get involved directly in the BJP's internal affairs, the swamiji said her expulsion was not in tune with democratic norms.

Differences

On the reported differences between the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the swamiji said these were merely ideological and they would be sorted out.

Clarifying that he was neither a member of the BJP nor directly associated with the RSS, the swamiji said differences, if any, were not major and leaders on either side could resolve any issue and work unitedly in the future.

At the same time, he said both the BJP and RSS could not distance themselves from each other as both needed the other for their growth.

Moreover, ideological differences between two likeminded organisations were common, he said and added that the new President of BJP Rajnath Singh was capable of protecting the BJP's interests while working in tandem with the RSS.

The swamiji also hoped that pro-Hindu organisations and parties would work together and not against one another.

`Splits not good'

Splits in such organisations and parties and the move to set up parallel outfits would only reduce their strength politically, he said and added that none of the existing or new parties could muster the strength to pursue forward any constructive agenda.