VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmiya had on Friday criticised Advani for failing to stop the killings of Hindus in Doda. Former Panchajanya editor Bhanu Pratap Shukla, who is considered close to Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, carried out a vicious attack on the home minister in an article published today in the Hindi daily, Punjab Kesri.

But Shukla is technically no more a member of the Sangh parivar -- he was ousted from the RSS following a controversy some years ago. B L Sharma, the flamboyant former BJP MP from east Delhi, under the banner of Akhand Hindustan Morcha, sat on a token hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar today to press for the resignation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and to demand the handing over of the stateto the army.

Did this mean that Sharma, who is one of the leading lights of the VHP, disapproved of Advani's handling of the affairs in Jammu and Kashmir? ‘‘No, he replied. ‘‘The home minister has done a lot of work, but a lot still needs to be done. We should give him some more time.

‘‘Like Sardar Patel, he should be more strict in dealing with the militants so as to crush their activities, he added.

In his article, Shukla, however, derided attempts to compare Advani with Indias first home minister. ‘‘Patel was as much a sardaras he was effective. This title was not conferred upon him by the Congressmen working from their closed chambers or by the editor of the magazine published by the party, he writes. ‘‘It was conferred upon him by the farmers of Bardoli (Gujarat) for his work and character, his commitment, and for his ability to fight problems. Even Mahatma Gandhi accepted this and declared it publicly.

According to Shukla, after independence, many leaders became home ministers one afteranother. ‘‘But none can emulate Sardar Patel, Gobind Ballabh Pant, and Lal Bahadur Shastri. They used to first work, and then speak about their actions. Sometimes they did not even speak. Even if they did chose to speak, they used to select their words very carefully.

In his article, Shukla has also referred to the recent spurt in anti-social activities in Delhi, which was under the direct control of the Union Home Minister.