HVK Archives: Hajuria-Khajuria syndrome haunts the BJP
Hajuria-Khajuria syndrome haunts the BJP - The Observer
Dinkar Pandya
()
June 4th 1996
Title : Hajuria-Khajuria syndrome haunts the BJP
Author : Dinkar Pandya
Publication : The Observer
Date : 4th June, 1996
BJP in Gujarat is once again in turmoil. After the September-
October crisis last year, the party is in the midst of a new
unfolding drama.
Despite all the tall claims by the BJP high command last October
in wake of Atal Behari Vajpayee's success in saving the party and
the government from total collapse, many inside and outside the
party are of the opinion that it was merely a patch-up that would
not last and harm the party more.
The worst predictions have come true. Today, the party is in a
complete mess. If anyone in the BJP, including its top central
leaders, advances the plea that they were caught unaware in the
wake of the most shocking incidents that took place recently,
including 'inhuman' treatment meted out to a senior minister in
the very meeting addressed by none other than Vajpayee, then he
is either trying to fool others or he is living in a fools'
paradise.
The party high comrnand's belated talk of drastic action to
restore discipline in the state unit does not carry conviction
with anyone in the state, including those who have been party's
vote-bank. The reasons for this sorry state of affairs are many.
There had been series of acts of violence. In the Sardar "Patel
Stadium incident. a 78-year old senior minister, Atmaram Patel, a
Khajuria by dispensation, was battered blue and black and
stripped naked by Hajurias and was saved from certain death by
the police. During last six months, the Keshubhhai Patel group,
backed by controversial Narendra Modi and the RSS-VHP, have
been
on a rampage.
Violent incidents took place during last six months at Surat.
Rajkot, Ahmedabad and other places in the very presence of party
stalwarts like L K Advani, A B Vajpayee and K L Sharma. In most
of the incidents, the Hajurias had been on the attack.
In league with RSS-VHP, the Hajurias unleashed a pamphlet war
against all the Khajuria leaders.
Its climax came during the last Lok Sabha poll. The VHP came out
openly against all the Khajuria leaders and appealed to voters to
defeat all such candidates. The frenzy created by the sadhus and
saints reached its peak in Godhra constituency from where Vaghela
had been fighting. The Hajuria-VHP campaign resulted in the
defeat of Vaghela and about six other Khajuria candidates.
Jitendra Sukhadia in Baroda, Somabhai Patel in Surendranagar,
Harisinha Chavda in Banaskantha, Arvind Trivedi in Sabarkantha,
Suman Bhambhor in Dohad and Kishor Solanki in Anand.
Towards the end of electioneering, Vajpayee declared that 'we
would take drastic action to set our house in order after the
elections.'
But other leaders were myopic, to say the least. Vajpayee's
sympathies were clearly with the Vaghela group, as was evident
from the fact that he went to address a meeting in Vaghela's
constituency even when there was considerable tension due to
fasts undertaken by the sadhus and sants. No other leader.
including Advani who had toured the state, thought it proper to
go to Vaghela's help.
However, buoyed by the defeat of Vaghela, the Hajuria camp lost
all balance.
A furious Vaghela lashed out at the Hajurias and warned them of
dire consequences if such acts were repeated and formed the
'Maha-Gujarat Asmita (pride) Manch,' to fight all such elements.
However, the stadium incidents proved to be 'the last straw on
the camel's back'. Three important leaders, chief minister Suresh
Mehta, state party president Kashiram Rana and Vaghela closed
ranks and decided to unitedly fight the Hajuria menace. The
chief minister had been the butt of ridicule of the Hajurias,
who day-in and day-out went on saying that Keshubhai Pitel was to
be reinstalled. Even Patel went on adding fuel, to such stories.
All the Khajurias and other leaders had Complained to the central
leaders on the sabotage indulged in by the Hajurias. But nothing
was done. The studied silence of the high command even in face
of provocative incidents only emboldened the Hajurias.
The result was the stadium incident, and formation of the manch.
Mehta, Rana and Vaghela pleaded with the central leaders to take
action against the 'goonda' elements who had brought shame to the
party.
Instead of acting against such elements. the high command decided
to strike against Vaghela, describing his manch as anti-party and
asking him to disband or face action. However, the united stand
of Mehta, Rana and Vaghela could not be ignored by the high
command. Now the high command has decided to inquire into
these
incidents by sending two-member team of Kushabhau Thakre and K
L
Sharma.
However, acting swiftly, Vaghela disbanded his manch, as he and
his supporters were not ready to confront the high command on
that issue. Moreover, they had tactical advantage, as the high
command had categorically come out that chief minister Suresh
Mchta would not be changed, as had been constantly demanded
by
the Hajurias. Moreover, both the chief minister and state unit
president, both in the Khajuria camp, were getting a free hand to
discipline those who indulged in anti-party acts.
Khajurias in the state are fully convinced that party president
L K Advani was with the Hajurias whereas Vajpayee was with the
Khajurias.
In fact, the common perception in political circles is that what
is happening in the state BJP is the result of the division in
the party high command between the RSS and non-RSS factions.
However, as far as Gujarat is concerned, it has taken the form of
Patel versus the non-Patel fight with Keshubhai's Hajurias being
supported by the Patels and other high castes and Vaghela's
Khajuria's backed by the non-Patel OBCs.
The main reason for the great divide in the State BJP has been
the sudden and tremendous expansion of the influence of the party
and the resultant influx of a large number of non-RSS, liberal
elements. During its expansion stage, the BJP leaders had taken
in a considerable number of ex-Congress leaders who came from
totally different work and political culture.
Thus, the Hajuria-Khajuria syndrome is going to be most
intractable for the state and the central BJP leaders. Any
action to improve the situation is likely to be counterproductive
for the party.
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