Nadda On BJP-RSS Relations Is In Not The Parting Of Ways Between The Parent Organisation And Its Political Progeny
By
Ram Puniyani for New Age Islam
25 May 2024
Though Nurtured And Trained In The Ideology Of
Hindu Nationalism, The BJP For Electoral Purposes Put Forward “Gandhian
Socialism” As Its Motto. As The Party Did Not Get Much Traction In The
Electoral Arena, It Soon Shifted Gears And Took Up The Babri Mosque-Ram Temple
As The Central Issue. The Accompanying Anti Muslim Violence Led To Polarisation
And The BJP’s Position In National Politics Steadily Went
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As the
election season (April-May 2024) is in progress there are observations by some
that this time RSS volunteers (Swayamsevaks) are not on the field to help the
BJP for electoral mobilization. So far, in most elections barring the one of
1984, in the aftermath of anti Sikh pogrom. There are many guesses about the
role of RSS combine in the elections this time. In this context the interview
of Mr. J.P. Nadda, given to IE (May 19, 2024) claims that RSS is a cultural and
social organization while BJP is a political party. Nadda claims that “… the
BJP was now self-reliant and was fully capable of running its own affairs. The
party has evolved over a period of time and unlike when during Atal Behari
Vajpayee’s time, it was completely dependent on the RSS, this was not the case
anymore.”
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
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This is
claimed particularly in the light of Narendra Modi’s spectacular rise, most of
his decisions being made by himself and the charisma created around him by
multiple mechanisms, including what is called Godi media, Controlled by his
circle of corporate cronies. Some will tend to believe that BJP is now a
totally autonomous party like any other party. Can this be true?
As we
recall RSS was formed in the context of rising ‘Indian-consciousness’ during
the freedom struggle. India’s anti-colonial freedom struggle was founded on
pluralism and diversity. The triggering point for formation of RSS was the
rising dalit struggles for social equality. The formation of this Hindu
nationalist organization was also inspired by the Nationalism of Mussolini and
Hitler. Unlike another organization devoted to Hindu nationalism, the Hindu
Mahasabha, RSS focused on training Swayamsevaks and Pracharaks (propagators) in
the ideology of Hindu nationalism rather than jumping directly into the
political arena.
In due
course it started throwing up different organizations, mostly formed by its
trained volunteers. Interestingly the first subordinate organization was
Rashtra Sevika Samiti, for women. This was guided by K.B. Hedgewar the first
Sarsanghchalak, and formed by the women close to RSS Pracharaks (propagators),
as women are not permitted in RSS itself. The Pracharaks in due course formed
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bhartiya Mazdoor
Sangh, Vishwas Hindu Parishad and a bit later Bajrang Dal. Today it has over 60
organizations working on the agenda of Hindu Rashtra.
The
formation of the political wing of RSS came in the wake of murder of the Father
of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, by RSS trained Pracharak Nathuram Godse. RSS felt
the need for a political party which can articulate its ideology in the
political arena. So far entering the political arena was an anathema for this
organization. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee of Hindu Mahasabha helped by Arya Samaj
in particular took the lead in formation of BJP predecessor, Bhartiya Jana
Sangh. RSS loaned three of its prominent Pracharaks to Jana Sangh: Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, Lal Krishan Advani and Deendayal Upadhyay. Later with Deendayal
Upadhyay becoming the President of Jana Sang- RSS control on this party became
total.
At the same
time its Shakhas were training young boys in the ideology of Hindu nationalism,
based on glorification of the ancient past and hate for the Muslims. As per
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel it was the Hate spread by RSS due to which murder of
Gandhi became possible, “Sardar Patel was firmly of the opinion that the
communal poison spread by the RSS was responsible for the Mahatma’s
assassination. …He said, ‘As a final result of the poison, the country had to
suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhi’
Jana Sangh
-RSS eagerly joined the Jayaprakash Narayan movement 1975. Soon they came to
control the movement and got respectability in public eyes, which was extremely
low due to their association with Gandhi murder. Jana Sangh also merged into
Janata Party which was inspired by JP. Soon many components of Janata Party
asked the Jana Sangh leaders in the party to give up their association with
RSS, i.e. to give up dual membership (of Janata Party and RSS). The Jana Sangh
leaders owed their primary loyalty to RSS and left Janata Party to form
Bhartiya Janata Party in 1980.
While they
were nurtured and trained in the ideology of Hindu Nationalism, BJP for
electoral purposes put forward “Gandhian Socialism” as their motto! As they did
not get much traction on the electoral arena they soon shifted gears and took
up Babri Mosque-Ram Temple as the central issue. The accompanying anti Muslim
violence led to polarization and BJP’s ascent on the political chessboard went
up by leaps and bounds.
The major
policies of RSS Combine, of which BJP is a component, are coordinated through
annually held ‘Akhil Bhartiya India Pratinidhi Sabha’ (ABPS, All India
Representatives Meeting), presided over by the RSS Sarsanghchalak. As BJP
became more powerful the RSS was getting more space to work and infiltrate in
the state apparatus. Since 2014, the number of RSS Shakhas (Branches) has gone
up in number in a big way. As per the ABPS report 22-23 “Over 8,500 new ‘Shakha’
(daily meetings) were started by the RSS in the country during 2022-23. The
total number of ‘Shakha’ rose 12 per cent to 68,651 from 60,117 during
the previous year. “
This shows
the speed with which RSS work is expanding during present BJP rule. What
prevails in RSS and BJP is a division of labour, with RSS being the parent
organization and laying the broad contours of march to Hindu Rashtra.
The present
scenario where Mr. Nadda is making this statement needs to be understood in the
context of their electoral strategy and relationship to RSS. It is in no way
the parting of ways between the parent organization and its political progeny.
Modi’s towering image is needed for the agenda of Hindu nation. As most of the
sectarian nationalisms, which are mostly dictatorial, need a towering image to
undermine and wipe out democratic freedoms. So projecting Modi as a tall figure
in no way contradicts the agenda of RSS combine, as a matter of fact it aids
their goals in immeasurable ways.
What Mr.
Nadda is stating needs to be taken in the proper context and tactical need of
the RSS-BJP agenda. It in no way suggests any differences in their long term
goal or relationship.
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Original
Headline: Nadda On BJP-RSS Relations: Father,
Son And Political Equations
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Ram Puniyani is president of the Centre for Study
of Society and Secularism.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/bjp-rss-organisation-political-progeny/d/132382
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