New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat held a press conference on Friday. Rarely has a RSS chief held a press conference with so much attention around it.
It was telecast live by almost every channel, but then rarely has the BJP been in as much disarray as now and everyone was waiting to see how the RSS would react to the recent developments.
Though he said nothing officially, the RSS chief's message for the BJP was clear -- get your house in order, it's time to rise from the ashes and rebuild.
The normally reticent RSS leader chose his words carefully maintaining that the RSS does not and will not interfere in the BJP's issues, making it clear that for now Mr Shourie's wish of a RSS takeover will remain unfulfilled.
"The BJP has to resolve its own crisis. If the BJP asks for help the Sangh will give," said Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief.
There were also indications on what the Sangh thought about the future of the party and there were indications that the RSS wants the old guard to give way to younger leaders.
"Ideal age for the leadership of the Sangh Parivar it heads was 50 to 60 years. BJP is not like a child, in fact, most of the RSS leaders are senior to us," Bhagwat added.
And though everything from who should take over to Kandahar received a no comment remark, almost immediately after the press conference the entire senior brass of the BJP was at the RSS headquarters.
The notable exception was L K Advani.
So, instead of a road ahead the BJP learnt the new rules of relationship from RSS chief, and also a promise of limited autonomy not unlimited freedom.