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Advani summons BJP leaders to discuss row with Mayawati

The rebel BJP leader, Ganga Bhakt Singh (right) who announced his comeback, with the party's legislative leader, Lalji Tandon, in Lucknow on Sunday . — Photo: Subir Roy

Lucknow Jan. 5. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, has summoned the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, Vinay Katiyar, and senior leader, Lalji Tandon, to Delhi for discussions to resolve differences with the Chief Minister, Mayawati, including the latest over B.R. Ambedkar's remarks in a book.

Sources in the State BJP said that Rajnath Singh, party's national general secretary, and Kalraj Mishra, in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, have also been summoned for the January 7 meeting. The latest controversy and the BJP's reported reservations on frequent transfers and postings of IAS and IPS officials in the State would be discussed.

The BSP-BJP row began with Mr. Katiyar's reported speeches in which he quoted portions of Dr. Ambedkar's book, `Pakistan or Partition of India', in which a particular community had been blamed for using `violent' means to serve their objectives.

Mr. Katiyar, during the month-long `Vijay Vikas Yatra', quoted Dr. Ambedkar as terming the members of a community as ``terrorists''. He also claimed that Dr. Ambedkar was against reservation for the minority community.

Ms. Mayawati had charged Mr. Katiyar with distorting Dr. Ambedkar's views. Mr. Katiyar, a former Bajrang Dal leader, defended his statement saying they were not meant to create differences between the BJP and the BSP.

Dr. Ambedkar was a supporter of the ``cultural nationalism'', he said, adding that the Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura temple issues besides `goraksha' (cow protection) were part of that `cultural nationalism'.

He discounted the BSP's fears that several members of the minority community supporting the party might feel ``cheated over Dr. Ambedkar's reported views on the issue''. — UNI

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