By Harish Gupta
Deccan Chronicle
Aug 25, 2008
The BJP leadership has informally conveyed to the government that it does not want to flare up passions in Jammu and Kashmir.
It also told the Centre that its protests and jail bharo agitation are not only low-key but also peaceful. Even their nationwide agitation call is, they said, not aimed at creating any disorder.
The BJP would like to consolidate its votebank which was dithering for some time.
The party lacked an emotive issue to motivate its cadres and it now feels its objective has been achieved.
The BJP has realised that any escalation in the agitation or violence would be detrimental to the party’s image and to the country.
Secondly, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr L.K. Advani, no longer wants to be portrayed as a Hindutva protagonist.
He is aware that Hindu consolidation will not give the party more allies, nor will it bring it the "majority" that the BJP is hoping for in Lok Sabha polls.
Therefore, while other party leaders are using strong language, Mr Advani is being soft.
He has also been sending signals to the government that he won’t ride the "Sankalp Rath" and that his yatra will be limited.
