SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2024
Robin Roy
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh recently responded t RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat raising concerns about the Manipur situation, and said the organisation should take positive steps if it can bring about a change, otherwise just talking about the strife-torn state means anything.
Singh, who was suspended from Rajya Sabha for part of the Monsoon Session in July 2023 over repeatedly “violating” the directives of the Chair while protesting on the Manipur issue, also wondered why the RSS chief did not caution the BJP about the northeastern state earlier.
“Recently (BJP president) J P Nadda said the BJP of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s time required the support of the RSS but the BJP of (PM) Narendra Modi does not need it. I think this is a result of a fight between a mother and a child because Nadda has openly spoken against the RSS and the RSS is also openly speaking against the BJP,” Singh told reporters here.
In his first speech after the Lok Sabha election results, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat criticised the poll campaign as being “devoid of standards” while he condemned all sides for engaging themselves in propaganda politics. He expressed concern over technology being used intensively to spread false narratives and fake agendas.
It may be noted that he urged the Centre to prioritise the restoration of order and said it should be treated as a “prime responsibility”.
“Outside atmosphere is different after the Lok Sabha elections are over; the new government has also taken shape. Why it has happened, does not concern the Sangh. The Sangh works for refining public opinion in every election, did it this time also but does not get entangled in the analysis of the outcome,” Bhagwat had said.
He went on to say, “During the election, competition is inevitable but it should be based on truth. Our tradition is of evolving consensus, that is why Parliament has two sides so that both sides of any issue are considered. But the dignity, the values of our culture should have been maintained. The election campaign was devoid of dignity. It made the atmosphere vicious. Technology was used to spread fake propaganda and false narratives. Is this our culture? Is this why we educate ourselves and is this the way we should be using technology?” he had asked.
He went to say, “If you serve people, then serve them with your heart. Do not develop arrogance and pride for that.”
His remarks were interpreted by some as being oblique references.
Mentioning and highlighting the importance and seriousness of parliamentary democracy especially and the election system, Bhagwat said there should be “consensus” in the House and that is why there are two sides. There has to be “unanimity”, and every side should shun bitterness against each other.
Political analysts across the country have keenly watched and tried in their own way to decode the timing and content of Bhagwat’s speech post the Lok Sabha results.
The ties between the RSS and the BJP, and to what extent the Sangh had its influence over the party became a hot topic soon after the RSS chief’s speech.
Political analysts also pointed out the timing and questioned about the wellbeing of the ecosystem between the party and the Sangh and whether the power centre in all these years has allegedly shifted to Ahmedabad from Nagpur. Also, the very thought or murmurs of alleged shift in power centre did not stem from thin air. The growth of PM Modi’s stature from 2014 to 2024 did create wonders for him (Modi) and the Modi magic in these 10 years can in no way be denied. However, these are assumptions only that may create layers in thoughts and prepare a script for argument.
The timing of Bhagwat’s speech is being closely monitored and also the matter of Manipur being the peg of the speech has caught the attention of one and all.
However, with the RSS being a thoroughly disciplined outfit, it will never speak out in public or give hints about alleged fissures between the organisation and the party.
However, Nadda’s interview to a prominent daily where he said the BJP now had a big enough organisational structure and was no longer reliant on the RSS may have added enough fodder for the political grapevine to work overtime.
However, the LS outcome in Uttar Pradesh with the state going to Assembly polls in 2027 has shocked people across the length and breadth of the country and fuelled the speculation further. The Bengal story was also sordid for the Saffron party.
Also, the inclusion of a huge number of turncoats into the BJP and giving them adequate importance has brought in an element of change even though senior party leaders might deny it.
However, having said that, one must also take note of the fact in December 2023 when Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh went to polls and the Saffron party did exceedingly well, the names which were doing the rounds for the coveted CM’s post were finally not in the reckoning and leaders with strong RSS background were chosen for the state’s top post.
However, the BJP must take note of Bhagwat’s speech seriously and go back to recreate a strategy especially for the upcoming bypolls in 13 states on July 10, while the results will be announced on July 13.
Also, the upcoming crucial Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Bihar will all be extremely crucial for the BJP to once again set its supremacy and the PM is already on the job. With the massive nationwide rejig exercise of the party organisation things are expected to fall in place.
Meanwhile, it must be recalled that the Modi 3.0 government will also need the support of leaders like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.
(Writer is a senior journalist and former Senior Associate Editor, O Heraldo, Goa)
