Lay off BJP, Endorse RSS, says Defense Minister

[Guest guest]

George Fernandes tells NDA allies to lay off BJP, endorses RSS stand

on Ayodhya issue

 

Press Trust of India

 

New Delhi, March 26: Coming to the aid of a beleaguered BJP, Defence

Minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes has said the ruling

coalition's partners cannot dictate to BJP on its relationship with

the Sangh Parivar.

 

Virtually endorsing the Parivar's stand on the Ayodhya issue, the

Samata Party leader has also favoured its solution through

dialogue "as courts cannot decide on questions left behind by

history".

 

"It is for that party (BJP) to decide on the nature of its

relationship with the Sangh Parivar. As part of NDA, we have

committed ourselves to a certain programme. Our (allies') concern

should be to ensure that the programme is not diluted," Fernandes

told PTI in an exclusive interview.

 

He was responding to a question on the apprehensions raised by some

allies including his own Samata Party leaders on the close

relationship between BJP and the Parivar.

 

Fernandes said there was "nothing new" in BJP's ties with Sangh

Parivar. In the wake of the Gujarat violence and VHP's plans to take

out ashes of Godhra train killing victims across the country, the

NDA had met and agreed on Saturday not to deviate from the

coalition's agenda.

 

Fernandes, who had met the RSS top brass and the Kanchi

Shankaracharya as part of efforts to resolve the Ayodhya tangle

earlier this month, said ideally the issue should be resolved

through a dialogue between the concerned parties.