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Govt pulls out the stops to ensure success of papal visit

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The rousing reception accorded to His Holiness the Pope John Paul II by President K R Narayanan in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan today in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani has pre-empted any virulent protests by constituents of the Sangh Parivar.

Barring a symbolic protest by Shiv Sainiks this morning who were arrested for waving black flags outside Hyderabad House and Rajghat, the threat of the VHP and the Shiv Sena to disrupt the pontiff's Indian sojourn has proved to be an empty one.

"Prime Minister Vajpayee and Home Minister Advani have personally given strict instructions to key government officials supervising the Pope's security to discourage any untoward happening," home ministry officials told rediff.com. "We are keeping our fingers crossed, but everything is being done to ensure that the Pope's visit is a grand success," they added.

BJP sources at the party's Ashoka Road headquarters conceded that despite the initial brouhaha, the members of the Sangh Parivar had "got the message loud and clear that the government is determined to make the papal visit a success and that they should not do anything to upset it".

They, however, pointed out that statements from some political quarters could not be stopped as these come under the ambit of free speech and expression.

But since Pope John Paul II's Indian visit is being showcased by the government as "peace between nations and unity and harmony of religions", the prime minister is keen that it should be so in letter and spirit, the BJP sources pointed out.

It was indicated that the VHP and the Shiv Sena have been 'advised' that their clamour for an apology from the visiting dignitary for the "forced conversions of Hindus in Goa" should be discontinued.

The Vajpayee government's approach to the papal visit has been shaped, to a large extent, by the insistence of its allies, particularly the Janata Dal (United) and the Trinamul Congress, that the prime minister must use every resource at his command to extent a hearty welcome to the Pope.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, despite being a non-practising Christian, has underscored that the papal visit is dear to the heart of members of his community. His JD-U colleague Sharad Yadav, who is also the party chief, has also insisted that the government must do everything to "make the Pope feel at home".

Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has underscored that she has great respect for the pontiff. Emphasising that her home state West Bengal has a large number of Christians, she has requested the prime minister to ensure that the government is not caught napping either in the sphere of security measures for the pope or his personal comforts.

"Vajpayeeji has personally told Mamatadi that Pope John Paul II's second Indian visit will be an international event to remember," Trinamul sources pointed out.

The government has deployed additional plainclothes policemen to keep a watch on the aides of persistent troublemakers like Jai Bhagwan Goel of the Shiv Sena. Though lodged in jail as a preventive measure, Goel told reporters today that his party would not be deterred and would go ahead with plans to disrupt the visit.

A senior police officer warned, however, that "our brief is very clear. Troublemakers will have to face the music. We will suppress them, with force if necessary."

The Pope's Visit

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