Thursday, June 9 2005 13:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The Communist Party of India (CPI) today (Jun 9, 2005) said the utterances of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani in Pakistan had struck at the very root of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-BJP ideology.

The BJP was in disarray after its electoral defeat in the last general elections and the present blow has deepened it by striking at that very ideology, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told a news conference in Bhubaneshwar.

CPI, he said, had no intention to make any remark on the ongoing turmoil within BJP. "Whether Advani withdraws his resignation or not or whoever replaces him are all internal matters of that party."

"It is, however, well known that from the very beginning RSS and BJP had to have some hate figures without which they could not spread their fanaticism. These hate figures included Muslims in general, Jinnah in particular and Pakistan as a whole," Bardhan said.

Referring to Advani's statement in Pakistan, which evoked strong response within the Sangh Parivar, the CPI leader said, "It is not very difficult for an individual to take a u-turn after learning from fresh experience even at old age, but it is very difficult to make an entire organisation do so."

He said, "The BJP high command is very quiet over the issue. It does not want a debate. All the focus is whether Advani should remain or go."

However it was clear that BJP would continue with its policies irrespective of whether Advani "stays or goes".

During his recent weeklong visit to Pakistan, Advani had described the Pakistan founder as a "great man" who espoused the cause of a secular Pakistan. He had also regretted the demolition of the Babri Mosque.

Bardhan said Advani's remarks did not amount to giving up Hindutva. He had only stated that Jinnah was a secular leader.

People of this country regarded Jinnah as one of those, not the only one, who spoke of the two-nation theory and was responsible for the partition. He helped the British divide the country, though at the same time, he played a major role in the freedom struggle.

It was true that Jinnah, at his August 11, 1947 speech, had spoken of a secular Pakistan and Advani had done nothing wrong by quoting him. But he forgot to emphasise that Jinnah was responsible for the partition, Bardhan said.

The leader evaded questions as to whether the turmoil within BJP would lead to a split in that party.

But when asked whether Advani's purported 'image changeover' could pose a serious threat to secular forces, he retorted, "Why should we feel threatened? Nothing has changed as far as the BJP is concerned...That's why they are glossing over any debate (on the subject)", he added.