Is rift widening between RSS, Modi?

Rajiv Shah / TNN / Aug 26, 2006, 21:16 IST

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Narendra Modi's absence at the RSS meet is being seen in BJP circles as an indication of the widening rift between the two.

GANDHINAGAR: Chief Minister Narendra Modi's absence at a two day RSS meet at the Preksha Vidya Bharati near Gandhinagar, is being seen in top BJP circles as a clear indication of the widening rift between the two.
The meet, held on August 24 and 25 to 'celebrate' the 50th anniversary of Gujarat's RSS mouthpiece 'Sadhna' was attended by RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and joint secretary Suresh Soni, who coordinates work between different Sangh Parivar bodies.
Significantly, it is not just Modi's detractors who are suggesting that the rift is widening on the same lines as L K Advani. Sources close to Modi told TOI that the CM was "perturbed" that only an invitation was sent across.
"Nobody went to meet Modi to hand over the invitation as protocol demands. The CM felt bad about it," said a close aide.

The fallout was that Gujarat ministers and top pro-Modi BJP leaders did not make their presence felt at the event.
"It was surprising to see that the RSS meet was chaired by a person who has changed his party half-adozen times. Among those called for the meet were editors and managers of Sangh Parivar newspapers. However, three former Sadhna editors were absent," a Modi aide said.
Sources added that this happened despite Modi taking personal interest to ensure that the August 15 issue of Sadhna was devoted to the Year of Gujarat Tourism.
"Also, it was on Modi's advice that the Sadhna meet was called," the aide said. Modi's critics said the RSS was unhappy with him ever since a sex CD, allegedly prepared by those around him, captured a Sanjay Joshi look-alike in a compromising position.
The CD led Joshi, all-India BJP organising secretary, to resign from his post. After the CD was found to be fake, Joshi was inducted back into the party.
The rift led Modi to not attend a similar RSS meet between March 22 and 26 to celebrate the birth centenary of Guru Golwalkar.
"The CD was discussed threadbare at the Bangalore RSS meet on June 24. A serious view was taken about those who were behind it," a Modi critic, requesting anonymity, claimed.
While a spokesperson for Modi said the CM did not attend the RSS meet because he was, "busy in Surat on July 24 and in other official meetings on July 25," his detractors are happy that former chief minister Keshubhai Patel got place of prominence at the meet.
State BJP president Vajubhai Vala attended the meet, indicating that he too is distancing himself from Modi. "The return of RSS men such as Bhaskarrao Damle and Pravin Maniar in the RSS centrestage in Gujarat has taken place at a time when pro-Modi RSS men like Madhu Kulkarni have been sidelined," a senior dissident leader close to Patel said.

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