Mr.Raman's conjecture on whether the Pakistani ISI plotted this "entrapment" of Advani is indefensible. Among Indian politicians, Advani is the most thoughtful and his utterances are always measured - a sign of careful preparation.The BJP has realised that it has to strike out as a modern conservative political party with broad as opposed to a narrow political appeal. In this endeavour, the BJP has succeeded in the economic front. The NDA's economic performance was excellent. The present UPA dispensation is finding it difficult to revert to the old "tax and spend" credo of heyday socialism.It is in social and political spheres that the BJP has to reorient its policies. It succeeded in putting the brakes on the avid minority appeasement policies of the Congress through its promotion of Hindu causes in the 1990s. However, this strategy has run its course. Besides minorities, intermediate Hindu castes who have been mobilized by Mulayam, Lallu Yadav and Matawati need to be brought into the BJP fold while Muslims have to be rendered non hostile. Advani's strategy is to support the peace process with Pakistan and China and to coopt the middle castes into the BJP's social base.
