Hindutva main plank for BJP, Congress
Hindutva
will be the main plank on which the election will be contested in the
Naroda constituency for both the BJP and Congress candidates.
Already, Congress candidate Kanu Kothiya is gunning for Dr Kodnani to
dilute the Hindutva plank to his advantage by attempting to snatch it
away from the BJP. "Not enough has been done for Hindus who had
been incited to attack the minorities by Dr Kodnani and other leaders
in Naroda Patiya. They have been left in the lurch to deal with legal
wrangles. There is a great deal of resentment against the VHP and Dr
Kodnani for making them face the cold," Mr Kothiya said.
"More than 150 persons, a majority of them from the backward class,
here were arrested by the police for their involvement in violence and
several others on mere suspicion. Dr Kodnanis failure to protect them
or even pay a visit to them has caused a great deal of anger against
her," Mr Kothiya claimed.
Dr Kodnani, however, says she does not intend to rake up the Naroda
Patiya incident during elections and will do so if the Congress attempts
to use it. The underlying message in her tone suggesting with finality
that the Congress dare not touch the burning issue. Dr Kodnani refutes
allegations that she had incited elements to attack Naroda Patiya and
that she has not visited the jails to share the plight of the victims.
"I had been in the Vidhan Sabha when the incident occurred and
had later gone to collect the ashes of the father of an employee who
had been a victim of the Godhra incident. Moreover, I had been right
inside the jails on atleast 10 occasions to meet those arrested in the
incident and have attempted to help them, whatever community they belong,"
she said.
Dr Kodnani said she will fight the elections on her performance and
development in the area.
However, it appears that with both the BJP and the Congress eyeing the
Hindu votes along caste lines, the issue will be at the forefront during
elections.
