RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has once again created a stir in the political corridors with his statements. Bhagwat's statements are being seen as criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This time Bhagwat has indirectly targeted Modi's claim during the Lok Sabha election campaign, in which he described himself as 'God's instrument'. Addressing a gathering in Pune, Bhagwat said, 'We should not consider ourselves God. Let people decide whether you have God or not.' In fact, Modi had said in an interview during the election campaign, 'When my mother was alive, I believed that I was born biologically. After her death … I have started believing that God has sent me. This energy cannot come from the biological body, but God has given it to me … I am a medium to do God's work.'
Bhagwat targeted for the third time
This is the third time after the Lok Sabha elections that Bhagwat has indirectly targeted PM Modi. Surprisingly, Bhagwat's statement came after the annual meeting of the RSS in Palakkad, Kerala, which was also attended by BJP President JP Nadda and BL Santosh. Earlier, a high-level meeting was also held at the residence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Nadda and RSS leaders were present. Bhagwat's latest statement indicates that despite so many meetings, everything is not well between the Sangh and the BJP.
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On which issue are the RSS and BJP unable to reach a consensus?
Senior journalist Neerja Chaudhary said in an article published in the Indian Express, Modi has implemented the core agenda of the RSS like Ram Mandir, removal of Article 370, triple talaq and uniform civil code, but the RSS has a problem with his way of working. RSS leaders call it 'individualism'. The RSS objects to too much power being in the hands of a single leader. Even in the Lok Sabha elections, RSS workers did not campaign for the BJP with as much zeal and enthusiasm as they did in the previous elections. Some people consider the reason for this to be the complacency arising from the BJP's slogan of 400 plus. At the same time, BJP President JP Nadda had said before the Lok Sabha elections that the party no longer needs to hold the hand of the Sangh. The Sangh would hardly have liked this statement of Nadda.
can't live without each other
But both BJP and RSS are interconnected. Neither BJP can run without RSS nor Sangh without party. RSS will hardly want Congress or opposition to return. Because Sangh knows that whatever BJP has done, only opposition can end it. This includes people in important positions in government, bureaucracy and education world who work to promote members of their ideological family.
'Differences in the family will be resolved'
After the Palakkad meeting, the RSS admitted to having differences with the BJP and said these would be resolved within the family. The immediate issue before the BJP and the Sangh leadership is who will succeed Nadda as party president and Bhagwat's statement is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the BJP top leadership on this. The party will clearly have to take into account the views and concerns of the RSS. Several names are being discussed for the party president to be elected in the new year. These include Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde, Devendra Fadnavis, Bhupendra Yadav and Dharmendra Pradhan. If the BJP does not perform well in the upcoming four assembly elections, will it be forced to hand over the reins to one of its senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari or Shivraj Singh Chouhan?
Sangh supported caste census
Moreover, the RSS surprised everyone by supporting the caste census in Palakkad. The Sangh called for caste data to be used only for social welfare, not for electoral politics, which is not possible. Because economically and socially empowered Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs will naturally demand a greater share in the power structure. Also, if the OBCs find out that they are 65% of the population – as happened during the caste survey in Bihar last year – they will not be satisfied with only 27% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. By giving its approval to the caste census, the RSS has come to the rescue of the BJP. The party was facing trouble due to the opposition's persistent demand for a caste census, which affected the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP will have to take a decision on the caste census. So far it has been ambiguous on this.
