Is BJP breaking apart?
Balaji Reddy, Special Correspondent
September 26, 2004

BJP has a lot of turmoil inside and lot of finger pointing at the most unexpected losses in this year’s election. However, Vajpayee and others are denying all these inside hints!

Seeking to downplay reported differences within the BJP over clash of schedule of ''tiranga yatra'' and ''Satyagraha'', senior party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday said that no programme or those leading them were "small or big". "Various kinds of talks are doing the rounds. New things are said everyday in the media," the former prime minister said, apparently referring to reports of squabble between Uma Bharti and party president M Venkaiah Naidu and the former's grievance that her yatra was being "undermined" by the party. “No programme is small or big and neither those who lead these. All are party's programmes," he said addressing BJP leaders and workers here on the occasion of party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay's 89th birth anniversary. Noting that media reports about differences could create "misgivings", Vajpayee said, “The party workers get agitated but the reports are not correct. We should not be bothered and fall prey to misgivings." "There is a need for taking steps after due thought," he said. In an obvious reference to reports that Bharti had been furious at Venkaiah Naidu for allegedly "preventing" Vajpayee from attending her yatra's concluding programme, the former prime minister said, "Three programmes came up today (Upadhyay's birth anniversary, yatra's conclusion and one in Somnath). (but) I am going to Amritsar after this programme." Later, he told reporters that there was "no need for concern" and the "spark" about differences will be stamped out. Coming to the current state of politics, Vajpayee said, "There is a need for giving deep thought" to it and then decide "in which direction to go". He said the party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay had always laid emphasis that "we remain awake". Naidu, talking to reporters, dismissed all reports about differences, saying these were the creation of media. "There are no divisions, no differences and no issues," he asserted, adding "No such things (as reported in media) are happening in BJP." When referred to his telephonic conversation with Bharti during which they reportedly had a fight, he said, "No issue was raised by anybody at any level." asked about Bharti's threat to quit politics, he said, "She has made no such statement." He also denied any knowledge about meeting between Advani and Bharti. To a question, the party president said Bharti's "future is bright". Noting that ''tiranga yatra'', and ''Satyagraha'' – over Savarkar issue, had been undertaken to counter UPA government's "assault on nationalist thought", Naidu said both the programmes had received "very good response." Attacking the UPA government, the BJP chief alleged it was "bent upon assaulting nationalist thought and symbols." "Their priority is clear. They don''t want development but confrontation and do away with what the NDA government did," Naidu charged. Describing UPA government's "attack on nationalism" as the "biggest challenge", he said the tiranga yatra and Satyagraha at Andaman were undertake to counter it. He said the party will chalk out a long drawn action programme against it. He also said that the party had decided to set up a centre to conduct research studies on Shyama Prasad Mookherjee and disseminate information about his teachings and preachings. The centre will be set up in the capital at a cost of Rs 10 crore for which land has already been got allocated, he said.