RSS-BJP RELATIONSHIP-
What is new and Why this war cry?
By R.Upadhyay
The recently concluded two important gatherings of the RSS- one at
Nagpur on its 75th birth anniversary (Vijaya
Dashami Day- October 7) and other at Agra in three-day (October 13-15)
Rashtriya Suraksha Mahashivir (National Security Camp) have once again
provided the opposition parties an opportunity to attack the BJP
on the issue of its relations with the RSS.
K.S.Sudarshan, the fifth Sarsanghchalak of the RSS in his first
customary Vijaya Dashami Day (Foundation
Day) message on October 7 gave a call to Indian Christians to set up
their Swadeshi (indigenous) Churches on the pattern prevailing in China
and to Muslims of the country for Indianisation of Islam. He urged
upon both the communities to join the mainstream of the country.
Re-iterating his appeal to the Muslims during his speech in the
concluding session of Agra conclave on October 15, Sudarshan reminded
them that "they had the blood of Rama and Krishna in their
veins." He further asked them, "why are you linking
yourselves with the invader, Babur, whose mausoleum stands neglected
even in Islamic Afghanistan." Union Home Minister L.K.Advani and UP
Chief Minister R.P.Gupta were also present along with over 50,000
Swayamsevaks, when the RSS Chief addressed the gathering.
As expected, the political adversaries of the BJP were agitated over the
presence of Union Home Minister in one of the two gatherings of the RSS,
where its Chief openly proclaimed the 'Hindu agenda' of the organisation.
They allege that Advani's presence in the Agra conclave of the RSS,
would mean an endorsement of the Union Minister to the views expressed
by Sudarshan.
Undeterred by the wide-range reaction against his presence in Agra meet
of the RSS, Advani categorically asserted
before the press that the "historical bond" between the RSS
and BJP is such that the latter cannot dissociate itself from the
former. The unbreakable bond between the BJP led coalition and the
RSS is based on moral principles. Reminding his opponents about
the roots of his party, he said, " We walked out of the Janata
Party Government because we were told to dissociate ourselves from the
RSS. The forces, which are bent on raising the issue once again
should be reminded that the BJP was born after that very
experiment." Equating the ties between the RSS and the BJP
somewhat akin to that of Nehru led Congress Government, with Gandhian
philosophy, he asked his opponents, "did anyone question the Nehru
Government on Gandhian philosophy - on issues relating to cow
slaughter?"
The CPI(M) urged the non-BJP constituents of
the NDA "to re-think about their continuance in the alliance as the
BJP was pursuing anti-people economic policies and had a hidden agenda
of establishing a Hindu Rashtra".
The CPI General Secretary A.B.Bardhan in a statement said, "The RSS,
which is wedded to fascist ideology is using the communal card again as
it did in 1991-92 to take political mileage out of Ram temple
movement". In a reference to the presence of Advani in Agra
meet of the RSS he said, "he subscribed to the rabid communal
ideology".
The Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh asked the NDA allies to
sever their ties with the BJP in the wake of Sudarshan’s statements.
The Nationalist Congress Party also joined the band wagon in condemning
Sudarshan for his statements.
Reacting sharply against the Advani's stand on the RSS, the Congress
spokesman Anand Sharma asked the Prime Minister to clarify whether the
stand of his Government was similar to that of his Home Minister.
He said, "This is the first time that the country was divided
between those, who accept Gandhi as the father of the nation and those
who accept the authority of the RSS."
In view of the shrill opposition raised against Sudarshan and Advani by
the political adversaries of the BJP, its president Bangaru Laxman in a
press statement (Gurdaspur-Punjab October 19) maintained that the views
expressed by the RSS Chief at Agra do not represent the views of the BJP.
The relationship between the RSS and the BJP is well known. It has been
a subject of controversy right from the days of Jana Sangh. But the
issue became a focal point for the opposition parties, when the BJP led
NDA came to power in 1998. The allies of the BJP were fully aware
with this reality when they joined the NDA and contested last Lok-Sabha
poll with a joint manifesto and an agenda of governance.
The, presence of Union Home Minister in the RSS meeting is not in
violation of any provisions of the National Agenda of Governance
formulated by the partners of the NDA. Even the Prime Minister had
visited the RSS headquarters in August last, where he had addressed the
RSS Swayamsevaks and made no secret of his emotional attachment to the
organisation. He also shared a common platform with the working
president of the VHP Ashok Singhal in USA. The opposition leaders
besides making allegations that the BJP leaders in the Government are
working under the dictation of the RSS have not provided the logical
proof . How do they explain L.K.Advani’s rejection of
trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir which RSS is demanding?
The opposition is currently found demoralised. The Congress party
is in a state of confusion due to its internal tussle on the leadership
issue. Similarly, the CPI(M) is in a state of demoralisation following
its de-recognition as a national party. It is also not sure of retaining
its power in West Bengal after the Assembly polls due next year in the
state. In its three-day (October 20-22) special conference, the
whole exercise was to rescue the party from its present state. The
decision of the party in 1996 against its participation in the
Government at centre was viewed as a "historical blunder" by a
section within the party. It has now decided to revive the third
front and make itself politically relevant as a national player. The
other opposition parties do not have any significant issue to raise
against the Government. They have therefore, joined the issue with
the sole aim to embarrass the NDA Government.
If we look back at the priorities of the Sarsanghchalak of the RSS,
there is nothing new in his statements. After taking over as RSS Chief
on March 10 this year, Sudarshan said, "Besides the
metamorphosis of RSS, the new millennium will see the explosion of
Hindutva" (Organiser dated March 19,2000). In his first open
address to the Swayamsevaks he said, "the new age would see the
positive expression of Hindutva to every segment of socio cultural life
and Hindutva would dawn upon the world as supreme philosophy and way of
life".
The present designs of the opposition parties may remind the people of
their behaviour ever since the BJP led NDA came to power at centre in
1998. They have wasted more time and energy both within and outside the
parliament in dragging the Government into the controversy of its
relationship with the RSS than in the discussion on real issues of
public interest. The relationship between the RSS and the BJP, is a non
issue and there is no secrecy.
The RSS is also to blame to some extent . Knowing the propensity of the
opposition to embarrass the government on this sensitive issue it is not
clear why the RSS Chief in his series of statements at Nagpur and Agra
repeatedly highlighted the well known Hindu agenda of his organisation.
The only plausible answer is as informally debated within the BJP, to
contain the likely erosion of pro Hindutva base of the party following
the minority friendly approach of party president Bangaru Laxman.
One section in the party feels that the statements of Sudarshan and
presence of Advani in Agra conclave of the RSS are to thwart the attempt
of Bangaru Laxman to woo the minorities. Another section with
deeper roots in RSS are convinced that the Muslims will never vote for
the BJP so long the Ram Temple issue is alive. According to them BJP
might have surrendered its Hindu agenda for the time being but the
people of the country including the Muslims will not differentiate
between the RSS and the BJP in this matter.
Another interpretation is that the whole exercise behind Sudarshan
episode is that, it is a tactical move of
the Sangh Parivar for electoral gains to the BJP in UP Assembly
elections, which is due next year. The message of the RSS Chief
and presence of Advani in the Agra gathering of the organisation may
indirectly consolidate the Hindu voters, who are now divided on caste
lines.
The leaders of the Sangh Parivar are quite realistic in their
understanding that they cannot transform the mindset of the Indian
Muslims to the pre-Islamic era of Indian history. But they have
been raising this issue right from the day the RSS was formed with a
view to uniting the Hindu society. On the other hand their political
opponents continue to launch an active and aggressive campaign to
counter them. This may go on, whatever be the merits or demerits of the
issue.
The country has gone through enough of the negative game played by the
political parties. People expect responsible behaviour from their
political guardians, whether they are in opposition or in the
government. Is it too much to expect from them?
24.10.2000
