New Delhi, September 23
Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, who precipitated a political crisis of sorts for the Vajpayee government on Friday after a Rae Bareli Special Court’s adverse verdict against him in the Babri Masjid demolition case, today met Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Vishnu Hari Dalmia, former BJP President Bangaru Laxman and Scheduled Caste Commission Chairman V Sonkar Shastri.

The meeting with Mr Laxman and Mr Shastri is being considered politically significant not only because the call by Dalit leaders is an indication of support that Dr Joshi is getting from party cadres and leaders but also that the HRD Minister is emerging as a rallying point for dissidents and those who have suffered at the hands of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani who has been directly or indirectly controlling the party.

On Saturday, former central minister and erstwhile Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar had called on Dr Joshi.

However, more than an hour-long meeting between the Minister and Mr Dalmia is being seen as an evidence of growing support for Dr Joshi from the Sangh Parivar organisation.

Mr Dalmia, who had yesterday criticised the BJP saying it would lose the forthcoming Assembly elections in four northern states as the Vajpayee government had done nothing for Hindus in the past five years, reportedly told Dr Joshi to stick to his resignation.

Later, Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh supremo K Sudarshan is likely to meet Dr Joshi to persuade him to take back his resignation.

Sources said the Sangh Parivar was divided on the issue of Dr Joshi’s resignation as one section has been supporting the HRD Minister who in their perception has done a commendable job in the Ministry by working on the RSS agenda.

The VHP, which has been spearheading the Ram Mandir movement, is backing Dr Joshi.

The other section is backing Mr Advani and the present BJP leadership and wants Dr Joshi to take back his resignation with an argument that his move was sending a wrong signal to party cadres.

RSS spokesman Ram Madhav told agencies that “The RSS has no role to play in the development. It is for the Prime Minister, Dr Joshi and the party to decide about the issues concerned.”

Earlier in the day, RSS Chief K S Sudarshan flew into the Capital from Nagpur and held informal consultations with senior Sangh functionaries, including Joint General Secretary Madan Das Devi and Publicity Chief H V Seshadri on the entire situation, particularly Dr Joshi’s resignation.

The leaders reportedly expressed unhappiness over the Sangh’s name being dragged into the “whole controversy for no reason.”

The leaders have decided to stay away from the developments, the sources said adding they also took exception to reports that the RSS had facilitated any meeting between Dr Joshi and other BJP leaders.