13

Jun

RSS and Modi’s BJP Tussle out in the open

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Dr Satish Misra

New Delhi, 13 June 2024

Going from the assertions of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and an article in the latest issue of ‘Organiser’, the tussle of supremacy between the Sangh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP is getting sharper.     

 

In an attempt to assert the independent image of the nearly hundred-year-old outfit, Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said on 10 June that a true ‘Sevak’ (one who serves the people) does not have “Ahankar” (arrogance) and works without causing any hurt to others.

 

In the latest issue of the RSS weekly ‘Organiser, an old Sangh loyalist Ratan Sharda commented that “Results of 2024 general elections have come as a reality check for overconfident BJP workers and many leaders.”  They did not realize that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call of 400 plus (seats) was a target for them and a dare to the Opposition,” Ratan Sharda pointed out.

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Article at a Glance

 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are engaged in a subtle power struggle. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently emphasized the importance of humility and decorum in public service, indirectly countering BJP President J P Nadda's assertion that the party has outgrown the RSS.

Bhagwat's remarks come after Nadda stated that the BJP is now "saksham" (capable) and runs its affairs independently, with the RSS being an "ideological front." The RSS has been perceived as an appendage of the Modi government, leading to concerns among its workers.

Bhagwat's comments are seen as an attempt to assert the RSS's independent image and authority. He also expressed concern over the ongoing violence in Manipur and the need for consensus-building in politics. The RSS's stance is being closely watched, with many questioning its silence on the Manipur issue and its motives behind speaking out now.

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The declaration of independence of the BJP was declared by BJP President J P Nadda in May during the Lok Sabha polls.

 

In his first public remarks after BJP president J P Nadda’s assertion during the Lok Sabha elections that the BJP had outgrown the RSS, Bhagwat spoke at length on several issues including the continuing ethnic violence in Manipur and falling decorum in the electoral battles.

 

Last month on 22 May, Nadda gave an interview to a leading English newspaper in which he stated that the party had grown from the time it needed the RSS and is now “saksham” (capable) and runs its affairs. The RSS, he said, is an “ideological front” and does its work.

 

The RSS didn’t react to Nadda’s assertion all these weeks, but now Bhagwat chose to hit back while addressing a gathering of Sangh leaders and workers following the culmination of Karyakarta Vikas Varg- a periodic training program for RSS workers- in Nagpur on the day the new BJP-led coalition held in first Cabinet meeting.      

 

Bhagwat said that a true sevak (one who serves the people) does not have “Shankar” (arrogance) and works without causing any hurt to others.

 

Referring to the bitter poll campaign, he said “decorum was not maintained” while underscoring the significance of building consensus.

 

He also reiterated the Sangh’s concern over continuing violence in Manipur and asked who was going to pay attention to the problem on the ground. He said it had to be dealt with on priority.

 

“Jo vastavik sevak hai, jisko vastavik sevak kaha ja sakta hai, woh maryada se chalta hai… Uss maryada ka paalan karke jo chalta hai woh karm karta hai lekin karmon mein lipt nahi hota. Usme ahankar nahin aata ki maine kiya. Aur wahi sevak kehlane ka adhikari rehta hai (A true sevak maintains decorum while working… The one who maintains decorum does his work but remains unattached. There is no arrogance that I did this. Only such a person has the right to be called a sevak),” he said.

 

The RSS chief made these remarks at a time when the BJP and Sangh have held discussions post the poll results and a new coalition government is taking charge at the Centre.

 

“The kind of things that were said, the way the two sides castigated each other (during the elections)… the way no one cared about social divisions being created because of what was being done… and for no reason the Sangh was dragged into this… untruths were spread with the use of technology. Is this the way knowledge should be used? How will the country operate like this?” he said.

 

On the Opposition, Bhagwat said, “I do not call it Virodhi Paksh, I call it Pratipaksh. Pratipaksh virodhi nahi hai (The Opposition is not an opponent). It reveals a side that must be deliberated upon. If we understand that this is how we must operate, then we must be cognizant of the decorum required in contesting elections. That decorum was not maintained.”

 

He said elections are integral to democracy and since there are two sides, there is competition.

 

“Because of it, there is a tendency to leave the other behind and it should be like that. But even there, decorum is important. One should not use untruths. People have been elected, they will sit in Parliament and run the country through consensus. Consensus is our tradition,” he said.

 

According to Bhagwat, there will never be 100% alignment of thoughts and ideas.

 

“But when society decides that we have to walk together despite our differences, then a consensus is built. Parliament has two sides so that both sides can be heard. Every coin has two sides. If one side brings an idea, then the other side has to reveal the other perspective,” he said, adding “We have to free ourselves of the rhetorical excesses of the polls and think about the future.”

 

On the surge in violence in Manipur, Bhagwat said, “Everywhere there is social disharmony. This is not good. For the past year, Manipur has been awaiting peace. It was peaceful for the past decade. It appeared that the gun culture of yore was gone. But the gun culture that took shape suddenly, or was created, in Manipur is still burning. Who is going to pay attention to it? It is a duty to deal with it on priority.”

 

Eyebrows are being raised and questions are being asked as to why RSS maintained silence all these months when Manipur has been suffering for over a year now. Neither Bhagwat nor any other RSS leader commented on the deteriorating situation in the northeastern state.

 

Was Bhagwat not aware of the arrogance with which the BJP government particularly the Modi-Shah duo were acting and speaking about it now is like a poor effort to refurbish the organization’s image and an attempt to assert its independent image and authority as the Sangh has come to be perceived as an appendage of the Modi government and there has been concerns among the ordinary RSS workers

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