ABVP and we don’t share similar school of thought: Ajay Bhatt
DEHRADUN: With not even a week left for BJP national president Amit Shah’s visit to Uttarakhand, the ruling party is still batting infighting. For the last two months, a few incidents have given clear signs of cracks within the party. BJP state president Ajay Bhatt spoke to Hindustan Times about the growing unrest among the party workers and how the leaders are trying to calm them.
Q) What action has been taken after the clash between Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad members and supporters of Haridwar Rural MLA Swami Yatishwaranand?
ABVP is a different organisation as we do not share similar school of thought. Had it been one of our frontal organisations, we would have suspended those found guilty. We are trying to maintain dialogue with the organisational heads to resolve this issue.
Q) But, it is known that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has supported the ABVP in the episode.
The matter is definitely serious. We will try to resolve this issue mutually. Even then, if they don’t agree, they can proceed with legal battle. The party has no say in that.
Q) ABVP claims Swami supported the rival candidate at the Gurukul Kangri University due to which it lost the students’ union election. Is it true?
Swami has already stated that there was a misunderstanding. We will try to find what exactly happened and also
to bridge the gap between the both sides.
Q) The scuffle between supporters of Cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj and Haridwar mayor Manoj Garg exposed infighting in the party as Garg is a loyalist of Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik.
Our disciplinary committee is recording statements regarding the incident. Neither the members of the ashram nor the sanitation workers who fought with each other are our party members. However, we are trying to resolve the issue.
Q) Does these incidents indicate war within the ‘parivaar’ (family)?
The BJP is a large family and such small incidents are bound to happen. Sometimes, there are misunderstanding as well. I spoke to the Haridwar mayor who said it was unfortunate that he reached the spot when the administration was about to take action. He claimed he became the victim.
Q) But the sanitation workers deliberately threw garbage outside Maharaj’s ashram.
Yes, they did. We are seeking explanation from the mayor.
Q) Some senior leaders claim the BJP is not taking strict action against those disturbing the peace
of the party.
It’s not like that. There is a mechanism for everything and we are taking detail report of all incidents.
Q) Do you think these incidents will blot the ‘unified’ image of BJP especially when Shah’s visit is nearing? Leaders are contemplating to complain him about the ongoing tussle.
Anyone can complain to Shahji. We can’t stop them. But, the BJP is a unified party and just because of a few incidents, I don’t think it is right to label the party as ‘fragmented’.
