Despite all the hoopla about the advocacy of Hindutva and avenge perceived “injustice” of history, the anti-Muslim chaos 2002 in what was then ruled by Narendra Modi Gujarat he had brought in a crisis situation for the BJP.
The party’s image had taken a serious blow in which even the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had lamented, “Kaun sa main leke chehra jaoon Videsh (What face should go abroad)”. Vajpayee had made the remark in front of riot victims in a relief camp.
In fact, Vajpayee and few like him, Shanta Kumar, the then Minister of the Union, were being evasive to make any move to replace then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, whose handling of post Godhra riots was always questionable.
Hardliners, and ironically that included LK Advani, then a powerful union Interior Minister Modi wanted to retain as against the wishes of Vajpayee believing that rule book Hindutva hardliners would be suicidal. This was the moment in which Modi himself told BJP leaders and enthusiastic party cadres in the courtyards of their status, “why should they be apologetic about Hindutva”.
The riots had started February 28, 2002, one day after the Sabarmati Express train compartment S-6 inferno that claimed at least 58 lives ‘Ram Bhakts’. By the third week of March (2002), hundreds were dead and Modi was summoned by Vajpayee, who also ordered him to end the cycle of violence unprecedented.
“Yeh pagalpan Chahiye Hona bandh (This insane fury must stop),” Vajpayee had Modi said in the presence of top party leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi Dr. Jaswant Singh, Pramod Mahajan, and also the likes of George Fernandes ( then Minister of Defense).
The year was also scheduled for the presidential election. The panel of saffron got into business. Most of the leaders of BJP and NDA were in favor of raising the then governor of Maharashtra, PC Aleaxander, the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The general refrain in the field of BJP as “a Christian president” could evasive March possibilities Sonia Gandhi as prime minister as a country not support a “Christian” President and a “Christian” prime minister.
It is understandable that the proposal was initially raised by Pramod Mahajan, the BJP backroom operating deceased. “Some of us believe in such arguments, even as his party, Sonia Gandhi in 2002 had done enough to prove their credentials and taken Hindu holy bath at Prayag and also made enough visits to Tirupati temple,” says one old timer party.
But strategists saffron and irreplaceable point of George Fernandes gradually the mood in the country among politicians and in the media was that BJP is “anti-Muslim” is not lost. A man who loved to play Indian mascot “moderate” Vajpayee was against this and reportedly advised and Pramod Mahajan confidant Brajesh Mishra make alternate plans for anti-Muslim image is counteracted.
Subsequently, some names were discussed and the list include Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. But no BJP leader George Fernandes even hoped that Kalam force play a political party.
Late Pramod Mahajan, Brajesh Mishra and Advani apparently thought it would be “good” if the name of Kalam for presidency was first suggested by a “certificate secular leader,” a phrase taken from Mahajan.
After a few days, it is Mulayam Singh Yadav left, whose bitterness with Sonia Gandhi was by then legendary. Mulayam Singh called on Vajpayee at 7 RCR and he and his trusted aide Amar Singh later revealed to the press that the Socialist leader Kalam had favored to be the next president. Tactfully, the first history of the media was “sourced to Samajwadi sources.”
“The suggestion by name by Mulayam Singh Yadav Kalam was godsend opportunity. Vajpayee also liked and delegated Mahajan convince Kalam,” a senior leader of the BJP later.
It was certainly a permutation and combination last minute. TV channels and ran stories and even the profile of the life and work of Alexander Maharashtra Governor PC saying soon give up announcing his candidacy.
