Blast In Mumbai's Suburban Train

[acharya]

Saffron combine gets chance to stage a comeback in state Add to Clippings
GIRISH KUBER

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2006 02:39:29 AM]
MUMBAI: Narayan Rane and other former Shiv Sena MLAs could well end up ruing their defection from the party as the ‘terror Tuesday’, which claimed over 190 lives, has had the Congress on the backfoot, while invigorating the saffron combine.

Analysts are predicting that Tuesday’s atrocity could have an impact similar to that the one in ‘93 had on political fortunes in the state. The blasts played a crucial role in setting off the Congress’ decline in the state. It galvanised the Sena-BJP, which finally ended the Congress’ 35-year stint in the state.

The saffron combine, of late, has been exerting pressure on the Congress-NCP government, accusing it of being soft on certain communities. Tuesday’s blasts will pack more power in their punch. The opposition now expects a repeat performance.

Wasting no time in discrediting the Congress, two opposition stalwarts, LK Advani of the BJP and Sena chief Bal Thackeray, have launched a scathing attack on the ruling alliance. The former BJP chief has blamed the Congress for its decision to withdraw the anti-terrorist act Pota (Prevention of Terrorists Act) which, according to him, was effective in curbing anti-national activities.

It was the Congress which decided to repeal Pota. “The image of being a soft nation encourages terrorism,” the former BJP president said. Nitin Gadkari, the state BJP president, asked, Why Mumbai is a preferred target, while terrorists spare the neighbouring Gujarat?

What Mr Gadkari implies is that the Congress-NCP government is soft on terrorism vis-à-vis the BJP-ruled Gujarat. He also recalled how the Sena-BJP rule during ‘95-’99 gave Maharashtra a riot-free regime.

The Sena chief, however, was more direct on his criticism of the state and the Central government. “People would not hesitate to dislodge the governments if the peace and security atmosphere continues to go out of control,” he said in his front page article in the party mouthpiece Saamna.

Taking a dig at the Congress leaders, who made a beeline to Mumbai after the blasts, Mr Thackeray said, “The dead thank the Congress governments in the state and the Centre a thousand times. They are thankful to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Union home minister Shivraj Patil and railway minister Lalu Prasad for visiting Mumbai after the blasts. Now they (the dead) can feel that at least some one is there to back them.” He has not spared the police either which, according to him, are brave before bar-girls and do nothing against terrorists.

All this acrimony would only rise as the election to the BMC approach. Having fared poorly in all recent elections, the Sena desperately needs a victory to stay afloat.

The tragic Tuesday may turn the tide in its favour. The only consolation for the Congress is that it will not be alone in grieving over its bad luck. The attacks also dash the BJP’s hopes of becoming a senior partner in the saffron alliance. With the Sena becoming more aggressive, the BJP will have to continue playing second fiddle to its regional partner.