Date:29/03/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032954820800.htm

National

A dangerous development

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) on Saturday said the manner in which things unfolded at Pilibhit leading to Varun Gandhi’s surrender in a court in connection with his alleged hate speech clearly revealed the BJP’s real face as a hard core Hindutva outfit.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters that his party viewed the developments with great concern as the mobilisation was done in a big way to provoke confrontation and violence as part of their electoral programme.

It was not a question who had masterminded the turn of events and what was important was a clear political strategy at polarisation as a vote-catching mechanism.

Mr. Yechury said the objective was to create communal tension and consolidate the Hindu vote bank.

The disassociation of the BJP with Mr. Gandhi’s hate speech was only a formal condemnation to suit its allies, but the polarisation was addressed to provoke its supporters.

The CPI(M) leader, however, maintained that the BJP would stand exposed in its game the same way when the people refused to fall into its trap in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks and rejected it in the Assembly elections that followed. “This time too the same thing will happen and it will be for the good of the country.”