In an unexpected turn of events, BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh are maintaining a safe distance from the Ganga Samagra Yatra led by senior party leader Uma Bharti.
The yatra is currently completing its longest lap in Uttar Pradesh but senior BJP leaders are keeping away from it — even when it passes through their constituencies. Senior BJP leader Om Prakash Singh was nowhere to be seen when the yatra reached his constituency Chunar in Mirzapur district last week and then Dr Murli Manohar Joshi was conspicuous by his absence when the yatra reached Varanasi, his constituency. Although BJP state president Laxmikant Bajpai welcomed the yatra in Ballia when it entered Uttar Pradesh on October 9 but have not participated in any other programme connected to the yatra ever since. “It is a non-political programme and the party is only making arrangements wherever required,” he said.
A senior BJP legislator said, “How are we expected to attend the yatra when we have not received any communication about its programme? We are elected representatives and have a host of programmes lined up and cannot be expected to stand in attendance without prior information.” Party functionaries, however, blame Ms Uma Bharti for the poor response to her yatra.
“If her yatra has proved to be a non-starter, it is Uma Bharti who is to be blamed for it. As a legislator from UP, she has never made any efforts to meet her peers and it is not surprising if they continue to treat her as an outsider. Moreover, her high-and-mighty attitude is not going to help her and she should learn a lesson from the yatra that has also been given a cold shoulder by the people,” said a senior party functionary.
Though the RSS, which is the brain behind the yatra, and the VHP have been involved in the event, Sangh leaders have also not made any effort to involve the BJP in it. “The BJP has its hands full in the current political scenario and the party will participate wherever possible,” said a RSS functionary.