Shiv Sena sources admit that the controversy may help Bhide, a Hindutva hardliner, emerge as a state-wide ideological icon
Shiv Sena seems to have chosen a tactical silence over allegations that Sambhaji Bhide 'Guruji' was responsible for the January 1 violence at Koregaon-Bhima near Pune. The Sena, which is known for its aggressive brand of Hindutva, has not been vocal on these charges and demands by Dalit groups for the arrest of Bhide, who is the founder of Shivaprathisthan Hindustan and Milind Ekbote of the Hindu Ekta Aghadi.
Shiv Sena sources admit that the controversy may help Bhide, a Hindutva hardliner, emerge as a state-wide ideological icon.
They made claims of playing a balancing act to avoid losing support of Neo-Buddhists (erstwhile Mahars who converted to Buddhism with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar), with whom it has built bridges over the past decade, or the dominant Marathas.
Though Bhide's organisation is non-political, a rise in its popularity among pro-Hindutva Bahujan youth may help the BJP, considering Bhide's Sangh Parivar links and praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fear Sena sources. This section was earlier the Shiv Sena's natural catchment due to the hardline Hindutva image of late Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
On his part, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who is also the executive editor of the party mouthpiece Saamna, has alleged a "political conspiracy" behind the Bhima-Koregaon violence.
"Bhide Guruji has a strong organisation within and outside Western Maharashtra. Many Shiv Sainiks swell the ranks of Shivaprathisthan Hindustan," noted a Shiv Sena leader from Western Maharashtra, adding that they were trying to strike a balance between the Marathas and Buddhist Dalits, who form a large and politically active bloc among Dalits. The Sena also has legislators from the Buddhist community.
However, in Kolhapur, the Shiv Sena had launched a counter-mobilisation after the state-wide bandh by Dalit-Bahujan groups on January 3.
The Shiv Sena had managed to spread its wings in Marathwada and among Marathas by opposing the 'Namantar' (renaming) of the Marathwada university after Dr Ambedkar. It has a strong base among Hindu Dalits but is reaching out to Buddhists as part of its 'Shivshakti- Bhimshakti' social engineering effort.
"Why should we be aggressive?… the Shiv Sena has not been named anywhere. This is not an issue of Hindutva, it is a local dispute that is being used for political ends," claimed a senior Shiv Sena leader. "Bhide was working in Sangli for years, but it was the stronghold of the Congress- NCP. It took the Modi wave for the Sangli Lok Sabha seat to go the BJP's way in 2014. It is only organisations like the Shiv Sena who can convert crowds at rallies into votes," he added.
A senior Shivaprathistan office-bearer admitted to the unease over the lack of open support by the Shiv Sena or even the BJP. "People are asking us about it... maybe they are doing this for the Dalit vote. But, Hindutva groups like ours eventually work to increase the ideological base of these parties," he said.
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