The Times of India
Athawale asks BJP to dump Hindutva
TNN | Nov 10, 2013, 02.24 AM IST
NAGPUR: Relations between BJP and its ally RPI (Athawale) have once again turned sour with Ramdas Athawale openly asking BJP to dump its Hindutva agenda. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Athawale stressed that BJP could not come to power without support of Dalits and Muslims and therefore it must keep Hindutva on the back burner. This statement is bound to create embarrassment for BJP and give ammunition to Congress and NCP.
Athawale is apparently unhappy because he is not being paid enough attention by BJP leaders after Narendra Modi virtually took charge of the party. He mentioned this grievance too in the press conference. "BJP should not decide the election agenda on its own. It should take smaller parties into confidence if it wants the support of all sections of society," he said.
Earlier, Athawale took potshots at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "Hindu-Muslim unity is true socialism. People don't want divisive politics but development. Therefore RSS must dump Hindutva. However, if RSS can't do it then BJP must. It already has the taint of Gujarat riots," Athawale said.
"If the Mahayuti of BJP, Shiv Sena and RPI (A) is to come to power in Maharashtra then the agenda should be all inclusive. BJP can't come to power on its own," the Dalit leader further said.
On MNS, Athawale said that if MNS wanted to join the Mahayuti then it was most welcome. "The first death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackerary is on November 17. Both Uddhav and Raj will be there. I will personally try to build bridges between them," said Athawale.
The RPI leader expressed his displeasure of Gauhati high court's recent judgment on CBI. The HC had said that CBI had no powers to investigate. "Courts should not create laws. That is the job of parliament and state assemblies. Courts should not interfere too much in governance," he stressed.
|
