RSS interventions include, banning of cow slaughter in Karnataka, backing the state government’s anti-conversion drive and making sure that tribals get enough attention by the BJP.
On Samarpan Diwas, death anniversary of former Bharatiya Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya, the RSS once again demonstrated its now overt say in the affairs of the BJP.
Typically, the day was marked by hoisting the BJP flag, donating some part of the workers’ income to party coffers and speeches by leaders. However, on Thursday, BJP’s newly-elected president Nitin Gadkari made sure that the day was observed differently.
As is common with the RSS, BJP MPs and party members were called for a workshop on Antyodaya [an agenda to fight for the last man in queue]. Main architects of the workshops were Gadkari and his political advisor Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The workshop was also the occasion to unveil the party’s plans to start an RSS-like three-year training programme. Successive years of training programme would have separate names: pravesh [entry], pragat [emergence] and praveen [senior].
The programme appeared to be a novelty for LK Advani too. He told Sahasrabuddhe that he “looked forward to going through the syllabus being prepared” for BJP workers. Each leader of the party has also been asked to adopt a social cause and to connect with the people.
Last year, the RSS seemed to have lost patience by working in the background for the BJP. It appears to be rapidly gaining the foreground in party’s affairs once again. For example, the RSS was behind the rejection of Bt Brinjal by BJP-ruled states, as its offshoot, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, felt that the genetically modified crop would kill indigenous strains.
“The RSS also took the lead against the targeting of north Indians by Shiv Sena and MNS, although BJP leaders were loath to take on the Thackerays considering their 25-year association with them,” said a part-time RSS worker.
Other RSS interventions include, banning of cow slaughter in Karnataka, backing the state government’s anti-conversion drive and making sure that tribals get enough attention by the BJP. “Only last week, a high-powered BJP committee was asked to take care of tribals. Due to their vulnerability to conversions, the RSS has always directed a lot of its energy to tribal affairs through its Vanvasi Kalyan Kendras (forest-dwellers’ welfare associations),” said the source.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}