Muzzling The Mouthpiece

Ever since the Gujarat polls, VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia has been telling friends and admirers that he now considers it his duty to set the national agenda. But last week Togadia came crashing down to earth when he overstepped even his loose cannon range and, in one stroke, annoyed the government, the RSS and even other VHP leaders.

Togadia's statement that all the land—disputed and undisputed—at Ayodhya should be handed over to the VHP-controlled Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas "or else..." put the government in a spot. Though it was Togadia's hysterics which had once again sent the government scurrying to the Supreme Court, his recent statement contradicted the plea that the courts lift the stay on the undisputed land as there was no law and order problem this year, unlike the situation in 2002. In a setback to the Centre's plans, on February 13, the apex court rebuffed the government's appeal for an early hearing.

Sources say VHP president Ashok Singhal told good friend hrd minister Murli Manohar Joshi that he would like to keep Togadia in check. The thought was that if the diatribe continues, a legal solution will be next to impossible, making it difficult to rein in the sants who gather for the dharam sansad in Delhi on February 22-23. That's why VHP vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore ticked off Togadia, even making him look a bit foolish when he said "he (Togadia) does not know the exact size of the undisputed land. The demand of the sants is now limited to the undisputed land".

RSS sources say Togadia (tipped to replace Singhal whenever the veteran retires) will be spoken to by the sarsanghchalak over the next few days. Says a senior RSS functionary: "Most of the time there is a degree of independence, but it is ultimately the Sangh which controls affiliated organisations like the VHP." Besides the massive faux pas on Ayodhya, Togadia has annoyed no less a figure than sarsanghchalak K. Sudershan with his statement that India should jettison old foreign policy postures and wholeheartedly support any US action against Iraq.

Togadia obviously thought he would get greater support from the parivar where many people subscribe to the clash of civilisations theory. But unfortunately for him, Sudershan has taken the line that US action only exposes the superpower's double standards as the epicentre of terrorism is Pakistan, not Iraq. Hence, Sudershan says India should support Iraq. That's why Giriraj Kishore says: "The US is going to Iraq to grab its crude oil, not to end terrorism."

Togadia's extreme views have not gone down well with the Sangh leadership which believes now is the time to consolidate, for quiet assertion on vital issues, not hysterics. An RSS functionary asks: "Why do you reporters ask Togadia about foreign policy? Do you ask the Muslim Personal Law board their views on Iraq? Just as the foreign office worldview is Pakistan-centric, Togadia's is Muslim-centric. He would like a war against all Muslims."

The RSS, however, officially has a somewhat different take on the issue. As a senior leader put it: "Sudershanji believes that Hindus going berserk will only harm our cause. Hindus must be firm but they should not take the law into their own hands or there will be a reaction against it." With the BJP on a high, the Sangh parivar also believes this is the right time to play a supportive role; there is no reason to unsettle the Vajpayee regime.

Yet even a chastened Togadia cannot be expected to shut up forever. With the full backing of partner-in-arms Narendra Modi, he can be relied upon to still deliver some nasty punches to the Vajpayee regime. After all, he still believes he's setting the national agenda.