BJP should give up 'Hindutva': Vaidya

NAGPUR: Criticising the BJP for its "inconsistency" in toeing the 'Hindutva' policy, senior RSS ideologue M G alias Baburao Vaidya said the party should give up the policy as it has "failed" to attract commoners. Narrating the history of the then Jana Sangh which later converted into BJP, Vaidya, in his weekly column in local Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat', said BJP had adopted Gandhian socialism, but could not stop itself from being labelled as a communal party.

After the 1984 general elections drubbing, BJP again started chanting 'Hindutva'. BJP came close to power, but could not sustain its strength. Party leaders had no patience and almost forgot 'Hindutva' and its basic principles, the former RSS
spokesperson alleged.

"The party came to power again (in 1999), but after losing it in 2004, it again turned towards 'Hindutva'. BJP mentioned 'Hindutva' in its election manifesto in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, but it miserably failed to attract the common voters and citizens in the country," Vaidya said.

"The BJP has failed to convey the real meaning of 'Hindutva' to the people. Probably they thought not deemed to climb the pedestal of power with 'Hindutva' line. Hence, BJP should now disassociate itself with 'Hindutva'." he said, but added, "If the BJP gives up its 'Hindutva' line, it will automatically snap its umbilical cord with the Sangh."

However, he said, it would not have any impact on the RSS.

BJP would have ample opportunities to get a modern outlook, Vaidya added.

"If BJP gives up 'Hindutva', regional parties like Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Telugu Desam Party will rush to it and internal bickering in the JD(U) will also finish," he said.