Don't blame Hindutva for BJP's loss, says VHP

NEW DELHI: Following criticism that utterances from the Hindutva fringe and hardline politics had cost BJP votes in Delhi polls, the Hindu right on Wednesday hit back saying, if at all, its agenda is an asset for the party.

VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain told TOI, "Whoever is reading this de feat this way is studying the polls poorly. When NDA first came to power, people said it came riding the wave of Hindutva. So how can those people suddenly decide to vote against Hindutva. Look at the BJP vote share. It has remained intact compared to the last assembly elections. Whenever BJP supports our activities it helps them electorally. If they support us, they will benefit. If they don't, they won't."

Jain said VHP had been protesting against 'love jihad' and organizing 'ghar wapsi' programmes since 1966. "This is not something that we have started now. Secular media and opposition raked up these issues to corner the NDA government. If people were not oriented to our agenda, there would not be gathering of lakhs in our programmes."

Even BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj, who stoked a row by stating that Hindus should have four children, defended the activities of the Hindu Right and his own utterances. Reacting to the Delhi results, Maharaj said, "I don't think my remark has negatively impacted the Delhi polls." He, in fact, expressed pleasure at the complete rout of Congress, thanks to AAP.

Soon after the Delhi results were announced, its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) attacked the party for its hardline agenda.