The RSS, an inside view...

RSS an inside view….

This  article is based on a book by Walter Anderson based on interviews and interactions with the top leadership of the RSS. I have also taken inputs from the recent speeches of Shri. Mohan Bhagwat and other RSS functionaries.

This book throws up many surprises, and successfully thrashes many views and perceptions that people have about the RSS, its intent, policy and its relations with the BJP.

Contrary to the public perception and belief,

RSS is neither the parent organisation of BJP, nor it dictates its policies, though some of the important functionaries hold important positions in the RSS. RSS top leadership takes pains to explain that RSS has its own identity, and it is not dependent BJP for survival. In this context, 

Top functionaries of the Sangh say that it had always had warm relations with Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and that the frost set in with Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul, who attacks them and conflates them with the BJP. RSS especially, doesn’t want it to be bracketed with the BJP and criticized by the congress party for its political expediency.

NOW THE RSS WANTS TO REBUILD ITS BRIDGES WITH THE CONGRESS PARTY.

RSS is politically neutral, In the last seventy years, RSS has officially participated in just two general elections. Once in 1977 after the emergency and in 2014 to defeat the corrupt UPA government.

RSS is angry with Narendra Modi for not enforcing discipline in BJP.

RSS did not like the appointment of  Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of UP.  Yogi was never a RSS member and in fact, he started an organization in competition with the RSS. Hence RSS is upset that a non RSS member was selected, when so many able RSS candidates were available for selection in such a big and important state for the RSS.

RSS is also angry with Modi for not dealing with Gau Rakshaks firmly, and taking steps to control lynching, and it is is unhappy with Modi for not taking firm action against the party workers, MLAs, MPs, and ministers making statements in support of the lynching and the accused including them..

And finally, the RSS does not believe in the war cry of “Congress Mukt Bharat “ by Modi and Shah. This has been clear by Mohan Bhagwat himself. RSS believes in a pluralistic society, where all political thought processes can coexist. And  this is reflected by the invitation extended to Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechuri and others.

There seems to be a shift to the position during the Guruji Golwalker days, when the RSS did not support any political party including the Jan Sangh. In accordance with this shift, it is inviting people having a difficult view point.

While inviting Mr. Pranab Mukherjee was a beginning in this direction, the evolution in this shift policy comes by way of an invite to the lecture in Delhi by Mohan Bhagwat titled "The Future of Bharat: an RSS perspective" to Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechuri and some other prominent citizens.

 "You call us exclusivist. Well, now we are going at the highest level, from city to city, explaining our ideology. Bhagwat-ji held a similar lecture in Mumbai recently. The RSS has had a personality evolution. We have changed our dress and said that those who accept India as their motherland are all our people. We are categorically against violence. People must be made aware of this which is why the outreach at the level of the Sarsanghchalak (RSS chief)."

The other significant message is reportedly for the BJP. Earlier, Bhagwat had publicly contradicted BJP President Amit Shah by saying the Sangh does not endorse his war cry of a "Congress-mukt Bharat". Coming as this does in election season, the BJP is not happy about the meet, greet and chat with the Sangh. BJP leaders are hoping Gandhi and other opposition leaders like the Left's Sitaram Yechury refuse the invite. This will ensure that they can call out the hypocrisy of the Congress's proclaimed "inclusive" politics. The BJP in this reaction is fretting like an only child faced with a rival, says an amused senior Sangh.

BJP leaders are hoping Gandhi and other opposition leaders like the Left's Sitaram Yechury refuse the invite. This will ensure that they can call out the hypocrisy of the Congress's proclaimed "inclusive" politics. The BJP in this reaction is fretting like an only child faced with a rival, says an amused senior Sangh functionary. "The BJP wants to ensure that we keeping providing the lubricant that ensures that they continue in power," he says.  Top functionaries of the Sangh say that it had always had warm relations with Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and that the frost set in with Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul, who attacks them and conflates them with the BJP. 

However, I feel that Rahul Gandhi should accept the invitation in order to increase his understanding of RSS and stop the meaningless criticism of the organization. 

Thanks for reading my article, please come out with your views and insights.

Best Wishes, 

Shyam

Please also read my other article on RSS 

The RSS, I knew in the sixties