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RSS-BJP meet today hinges on PM's health

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI OCT. 23. A critical meeting between the top bosses of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party to sort out the increasing differences on a number of issues between the mother organisation and its political arm is scheduled for tomorrow, but it hinges on the health of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak, K.S. Sudershan, arrived here today from a tour of Himachal Pradesh. RSS sources confirmed the meeting and officials in the Prime Minister's Office said the meeting would be held depending on Mr. Vajpayee's health which would be reviewed tomorrow morning. His engagements for today were cancelled but it was officially stated that he was progressing satisfactorily.

Although statements coming from leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad critical of Mr. Vajpayee, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani, and the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary, Brajesh Mishra, are expected to figure at the meeting, the VHP leader, Giriraj Kishore, said: "We are not invited". From the RSS side, Mr. Sudershan, the joint general secretary, H.V. Seshadiri, and the person in-charge of BJP affairs, Madan Das Devi, will attend the meeting. The BJP will be represented by the Prime Minister, Mr. Advani and the party president, Venkaiah Naidu. Mr. Advani and Mr. Naidu who are both in Gandhinagar today for a meeting of the Gujarat election campaign committee will be back here by tomorrow. Party leaders are suggesting that the meeting is a routine part of a regular exercise of keeping in touch and exchanging views.

But there is a growing public perception that somehow the RSS is slowly withdrawing its support to Mr. Vajpayee, that it has a hand in strengthening Mr. Advani and that it is not willing to rein in other Sangh Parivar organisations such as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal even if the daily comments and outrageous statements made by their leaders are harming the BJP. And it is against this background that the meeting has assumed importance. The BJP is expected to appeal to the RSS top brass to use its moral influence over the VHP and others and ensure that their attack of the Government ceases. Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani are expected to explain to Sangh leaders that it will not be possible for the Government to implement some of the favourite points on the Hindutva agenda shared by the BJP and the RSS.

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