This time, the BJP regime and RSS are strumming similar notes, praising each other and synchronising efforts to ensure realisation of state policies and schemes.
The synergy was unmistakable on Friday. Within hours of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's Vijaydashmi address to RSS workers in Nagpur being aired on Doordarshan, prime minister Narendra Modi described issues raised by him as relevant and even gave an online link to the speech. "Mohan Bhagwatji talked about important national issues in his speech. The issues of social reform that he raised are very relevant today," Modi tweeted.
Modi's tweet came even as the Opposition — Congress and CPM — fumed over Bhagwat's speech being aired on the public broadcaster.
In his speech, Bhagwat lauded government's performance and even urged people to give time for its policies to get effective. "We should keep the hope and aspiration alive. Nobody has a magic wand to change things," he said.
The dynamics between the party and its ideological mentor are different from those during the Vajpayee regime. But, then the Vajpayee government depended on allies, several of which did not see eye to eye with the Sangh's ideology. The Modi government is neither dictated by allies nor a Common Minimum Programme.
A BJP leader said the agenda of a party, whose ideological mentor was the RSS, had the people's mandate and the harmony in relations between government and Sangh could smoothen the path for tough reform decisions like FDI.
The RSS weekly, Organiser, in its cover story recently praised Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as a step forward to realise Gandhi's dreams while an editorial in another issue welcomed Modi's approach to foreign policy.
The volunteers of the RSS, which had openly worked to ensure the BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha polls under directive from its leadership, are now active in the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. A group of youngsters dressed in saffron and green, the colours of the BJP, at party chief Amit Shah's election rally said they went from door to door seeking votes in the name of the prime minister.
The controversy over Bhagwat's annual address being telecast live has also brought out the affiliation between the BJP and the Sangh. "One should not discuss the RSS in the context of any other organisation. It has half a lakh daily shakhas and lakhs of other meetings which are attended by millions.... This is the organisation which has inspired the BJP. Two swayamsevaks are prime ministers of the country and the Union cabinet also has several. So it is natural when that when the RSS chief is giving guidelines to organisation supporters, it is reported by the national channel," said Sangh ideologue R Balashankar, who is the BJP's intellectual cell convenor.
If Bhagwat appealed to all to get involved to ensure the country's progress and not just leave the task to government, Modi said if India had to move forward 125 crore Indians will have to act.
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