Advani becomes a hit with Pak media
Indo-Asian News Service
Islamabad, June 9, 2005|15:33 IST
BJP leader LK Advani's resignation as party president has sparked off a
guessing game in the Pakistan media over his motives, with some saying
that it was meant to widen his support base.
Most leading Pakistani newspapers on Thursday carried editorials trying
to decode Advani's laudatory comments on Mohammed Ali Jinnah during his
weeklong visit to the country and his subsequent resignation.
In an editorial headlined "Advani's new clothes", The News said, "His
remarks have certainly given him a new look among the Pakistani people,
who otherwise would reject him as a hardcore radical with nothing good
to contribute to peace."
It interpreted Advani's statement calling the Pakistan founder
"secular" as part of his drive to create new constituencies to serve
his prime ministerial ambitions.
"Advani, shrewd and astute as he is, appears to be more responsive to
the emerging environment in the region and also to the public mood in
India that is supportive of peace and coexistence with Pakistan."
"He appears to be ready to capitalise on the moderate and liberal
elements within his party as well as outside. Perhaps he is looking
forward to creating new constituencies," the editorial elaborated.
"What his hardliner partners cannot read now is something Advani has
foreseen - there is no place for radical politics in the changing
global geo-political scenario."
The Daily Times, in its editorial entitled "Mr Advani's masterful
hand", saw in Advani's remarks his desire to acquire an Atal Bihari
Vajpayee-like liberal appeal as a potential prime minister-in-waiting.
"It now appears from Advani's statements in Pakistan that he is trying
to acquire the same image and stature as Vajpayee. So he has started by
placating Pakistanis on some of the more emotive issues," said the
editorial.
"He talked about the Babri Masjid and offered a mea culpa of sorts; he
spoke of India-Pakistan peace and the need to resolve Kashmir; he went
to the Qaid's mazar and called him a secularist. In doing all this,
Advani came across as a seasoned and mature politician," said the Daily
Times.
Calling it a "masterstroke", the editorial posed the all-important
question - "Will the BJP wag its Parivar tail or will the tail, the
Parivar that is, wag the BJP?"
"Advani's gamble is likely to work. If he returns, he will be more
entrenched than he was before. He will also have unshackled himself
from the Parivar. In such a situation, he will be the winner all round."
In an editorial, The Dawn saw in Advani's remarks a provocation for a
radical reappraisal of religion-based politics in the subcontinent. The
controversy "managed to bring into sharp focus the dilemma of
religio-political parties in today's rapidly globalising, and
inevitably secularising, world."
"The politics of extremism and of exploiting religious sentiments for
political purposes may become irrelevant even in limited, regional
contexts."
In an attempt to place Advani's resignation in the wider context, the
Dawn editorial adopted a soul-searching note. "This is not only an
Indian or a BJP problem. Pakistan too faces similar issues, perhaps in
an acuter form because our constitution specifically provides for a
state based on religion and is thus a durable point of reference for
religious parties," it said.
The editorial advised parties to stop extracting mileage out of
religious politics. "Otherwise, we can easily become an anachronism in
a world changing around us."
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