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Narendra Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, Ashok Singhal share dais… (26)<br />
Ahmedabad: Amid speculation of the BJP trying to ‘patch up’ with the VHP ahead of the Assembly<br />
election, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and VHP leader Ashok Singhal met<br />
on Wednesday at a religious function in a gurukul in Chharodi village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.<br />
VHP’s firebrand leader Pravin Togadia, who was also expected, did not attend the function. Ranchodbhai<br />
Bharwad, general secretary of the Gujarat VHP, said it was a religious function and the VHP members<br />
attended it as guests. “The speculation of the VHP patching up with the BJP has no basis at all,” he said.<br />
Mediapersons were not allowed at the function organised by Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha at<br />
Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam. It is a three-day event and, according to sources,<br />
about 100 religious leaders are participating in it. One of the main organisers is said to be Rajkot-based<br />
religious guru Parmanandji. This is the second meeting of Modi and Bhagwat in the last couple of weeks.<br />
The VHP has reportedly been upset about the convictions in the 2002 riot cases, especially that of former<br />
Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, as also with the Sadbhavana Mission, though it has not gone public.<br />
Sources said so far the VHP leaders have been keeping away from election-related activities but a<br />
decision in this regard is awaited. Phone calls and messages to Togadia remained unanswered. Among<br />
the high profile participants were BJP leader Balbir Punj and Baba Ramdev. The yoga guru left the venue<br />
prior to Modi’s arrival. (<strong>Indian</strong> Express 8/11/12)<br />
Muslim woman beaten by gang for hiring Hindu driver (26)<br />
Bangalore: A 23-year-old Muslim woman was allegedly beaten up by a group of men from the community<br />
on the outskirts of Karnataka's Mangalore city for having a Hindu driver for her car. The fact that Deeba<br />
Algani was with her mother, Zubeida Begum, member of a village panchayat in rural Mangalore, did not<br />
deter the mob of around 20 from assaulting her on Wednesday evening. What's more, the mob allegedly<br />
snatched Algani's gold chain, her mother's mobile phone and Rs. 3.07 lakh cash. The attack occurred at<br />
Karmar near Bajpe (Mangalore Airport), around 360 km from Bangalore. Deeba is admitted to a<br />
government hospital in Mangalore with multiple bruises. The driver, Dharma K, who was also beaten up,<br />
is undergoing treatment at a private hospital, police said. Algani has identified her attackers as members<br />
of the Karnataka Forum for Dignity. "They attacked us after asking why we were going with the Hindu<br />
driver," she said. Mangalore police commissioner Mahesh Karbikar said, "We are checking if the<br />
attackers are members of KFD." Athavulla Jokatte, state committee member of the Popular Front of India<br />
said KFD was now a part of their organisation. "Our members are not involved in this incident."<br />
(Hindustan Times 11/11/12)<br />
BJP rift exposed: RSS leader says Modi needling Gadkari (26)<br />
NAGPUR/NEW DELHI: Factional fault lines in the BJP over the demand that party president Nitin Gadkari<br />
quit over controversial business dealings relating to the Purti group have been exposed with RSS veteran<br />
M G Vaidya blaming Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for masterminding attacks on the leader.<br />
Vaidya's blog stating the "needle of suspicion" for the campaign against Gadkari pointed to Gujarat set<br />
the cat among the pigeons in BJP-RSS circles as the former ideologue openly said what has been<br />
whispered in defence of the BJP chief by factions apprehensive about Modi's rise. BJP leaders favouring<br />
Gadkari have argued that he should not be judged by a "media trial". Some of these leaders are not as<br />
enamoured with Gadkari as they are worried that the scenario after his exit may not suit their interests.<br />
There are others who feel more proof is needed before Gadkari is asked to go. Coming in the midst of<br />
Modi's campaign for a third successive term as CM, Vaidya's remarks forced the BJP to run for cover,<br />
denying the "insinuation" and claiming that all leaders were united in seeking an electoral victory for the<br />
party in the western state. The RSS was also forced to state that the views did not reflect its thinking but<br />
Vaidya's comments only served to highlight divisions within it over deciding whether its protege, who it<br />
nominated over senior BJP leaders as party chief, should stay or go. The chasm in the RSS, according to
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