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Govindacharya's "study leave" is a punishment

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Govindacharya may be telling his supporters that he was dropped from party chief Bangaru Laxman's new team because he himself desired so, but it is becoming increasingly clear that he was punished for his outbursts against government's economic policies.

"Govindacharyaji knew he was walking a tight rope when he hit out against the party leadership on two occasions. The first occasion was when he criticised the government's economic polices and second was when he said in Bangalore that the BJP would go ahead with the construction Ram temple in Ayodhya, come what may," a senior BJP general secretary said.

He pointed out that Laxman's warning at the Nagpur session that indiscipline in the party would not be tolerated had come at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vajpayee told Laxman (before he left for the US) that he had the concurrence of a large majority of the Sangh Parivar on the issue and, therefore, no "laxity" should be shown to those violating the party's code of conduct.

Significantly, Laxman told a private television channel on Friday that the party was firm on it's approach as far as disciplinary matters were concerned.

He added that the posts recently vacated (by Govidacharya and Sushma Swaraj) would be filled without any problems.

Sushma Swaraj when contacted by rediff.com said she had nothing to say. She, however, pointed out that as a loyal "BJP worker," she would continue to work for the party.

Some partymen feel that Govindacharya being an Advani man, it would be difficult to sideline him. Much significance is being attached to Govindacharya's lengthy meeting with Advani on Friday.

It remains to be seen whether Govindacharya would continue to be active in party affairs during his "two-year study leave."

And while Govindacharya's omission from party organisation may have ruffled feathers within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, its chief K S Sudarshan has advised his colleagues to keep their cool for the sake of the unity of the parivar.

Sudarshan telephoned S Gurumurthy of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a strident critic of the government's economic policies, asking him keep a low profile.

Angry at Govindacharya's omission from Laxman's new team, Gurumurthy had suggested that the entire Sangh cadre working in the BJP be called back.

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