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We send ‘signals’ to govt, hold no remote control: RSS

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New Delhi: RSS has said it sends “signals” to the BJP-led government at the Centre but dismissed suggestions it held a “remote control” over it.

It also said that it has a right to give suggestions to the government like any other organisation in a democracy and is proud to have produced two prime ministers– Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi.

“There is no control, but certainly remote is there. Remote is there, signal is there. RSS is not having any remote control on BJP or any other political party.

“RSS swayamsevaks are working actively and are participants in BJP. BJP also subscribes to certain views and ideology of RSS and the inspiration they take in public life. If family members come to RSS for suggestions, is it remote control or affection. There is no complaint from BJP and there is no wish from RSS,” RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said at the India Today Conclave.

Asked if RSS was an ‘extra-constitutional authority’ in the present government, he said, “Where is the extra- constitutional authority? We are not doing any hide and seek. Presentations at RSS meeting is not wrong. If they make presentations before RSS, they can make presentations before this conclave. It is a democracy. We have every right to make suggestions to any government.”

Rejecting criticism that RSS gave diktats to the Modi government, he said RSS swayamsevaks are working actively in BJP and they are like “family members”.

Hosabale said in a democracy the RSS can make suggestions to any government of the day, be it BJP or Congress, even though Congress will not listen to them.

“We are proud that RSS has produced two prime ministers. Both are listening to the voice of the people,” he said, adding both Vajpayee and Modi listened to them.

“Vajpayee also listened and Modi also is listening. But, listening does not mean he is heeding (to) it. We are proud. I wish Vajpayee also had the opportunity to become prime minister at Modi’s age,” the RSS leader said.

He said, “We wanted that a budget of this kind should come. We had also suggested to Congress.”

Asked if RSS has asked for a temple, Hosabale said, “We have asked for a mandir at Ayodhya. That is our dream. It is the wish of the people. It is for the country and government to take up the issue. We are hopeful. We are also confident that they will also fulfil the aspirations of people. They have included it in their manifesto.”

To a question on whether homosexuality is a crime as considered under Article 377 IPC, he said, “I don’t think homosexuality should be considered a criminal offence as long as it does not affect the lives of others in society.”

He said, “sexual preferences are private and personal. Why should RSS express its views in a public forum? RSS has no view on that. It is for people to have their way. Personal preference of sex is not discussed in RSS and we don’t even want to discuss that.”

Section 377 of Indian Penal Code terms homosexuality as unnatural and carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail. Going by the global trends in this regard, there have been demands within the country to decriminalise homosexuality.

Hosabale said AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was an “anti- national” as he said he would not chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, a slogan not coined by RSS but during the freedom struggle.

Asked if one was a ‘traitor’ by not chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, he said, “Of course, he is an anti-national… All the political leaders except Owaisi’s party opposed what he said.”

“If someone says he/she does not want to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ at all, you are not allowing others also to not chant the slogan….If anybody says so, he is anti-national.”

He said ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ are not RSS slogans, but coined during freedom struggle and it is not required that these should be chanted all the time or every morning “but there is nothing wrong in saying it”.

On beef eating, the RSS leader said one should respect the sensibilities of others too.

“Can’t you live without beef, can’t you respect the sensibilities of majority and respect feelings of other people also? Beef eating has not been acceptable in this country. Mahatma Gandhi was also against beef eating, he did not become communal, but RSS is communal,” he said.

The RSS leader expressed concern that anti-national activities are being spread in campuses in the country.

“Why anti-India feelings are being expressed in university campuses? If some students are raising slogans for breaking India into pieces and its destruction, if they raise slogans in favour of a criminal who has been hanged as per the law of the land, any nation in the world will not tolerate it. In India, being anti-national is not acceptable,” he said.

On why women are not there in RSS, he said, “It is only in field activities in public that women are not there, but in all other activities women are there. RSS is not averse to the idea of women participation in physical activities in RSS shakhas. It can happen… A day will come sooner than later. We are taking our own time for all this, anything can happen.”

He also rejected the theory that RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle saying one should read history properly.

“RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle is a baseless statement.”
On reservation, he said, “It is not the right time to do away with caste-based reservation. We support reservation till discrimination in society exists,” but called for a review by eminent people who understand society.

He also said that RSS was changing as per changing times while referring to the change in uniform.

“Changing according to time is the essential thing of Hindutva itself,” he said.
He added that those people who are taking birth in this country are Hindus because “this is Hindustan and the fear of Hindutva is created because of wrong understanding or deliberate intentions”.

“Hindutva as we say is that it is Hinduness and not Hinduism. Radhakrishnan has said he practiced the Hindu way of life and I am proud of it, and he is not communal. Mahatma Gandhi said I am a proud Hindu, but he is not communal,” Hosabale said.

“I don’t know why people are afraid of hearing words like Hindutva, Hinduism or Hinduness, because Hindus are never aggressive in entire history of mankind. They have not enslaved anyone on any part of the world. It is only a few created on wrong interpretations or wrong intentions,” he said.

He said RSS’s vision 2020 is for an India which is united and one which prosperous, “a Bharat which takes pride in its culture and heritage”.

(PTI)

RSS leader murdered in Mysuru; BJP calls for bandh

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Mysuru: The Bharatiya Janata Party and other Hindutva groups are trying to impose a forceful bandh in Mysuru on Monday in protest against the death of a BJP worker in a clash on Sunday.

Raju (30), an electrical contractor, was murdered at Lal Bahadur Shastry Circle on M G Road under Udayagiri police station limits by a gang of three persons. The incident triggered tension in parts of the city.

It is said that Raju, along with his friend Jayakumar, was drinking tea at a roadside shop, when three bike-borne people arrived and attacked Raju with lethal weapons, before fleeing from the spot. Raju, who sustained severe injuries on his face and ears, died on the spot.

According to police, Raju, a resident of Kyatamaranahalli in the city, had left home on Sunday morning to meet his friends. Following the incident, a large crowd had gathered in front of the K R Hospital mortuary demanding police to arrest the accused immediately.

As news of the murder spread, a large number of party supporters and workers gathered at the K.R. Hospital mortuary, resulting in tension for some time. Commissioner of Police B. Dayananda rushed to the spot and there were arguments between the police the party supporters.

A few people in the crowd also tried to gherao Police Commissioner. Security has been tightened near the mortuary.

Meanwhile, condemning the murder, BJP state unit president Pralhad Joshi said the BJP would support the Mysuru city bandh called on Monday. Accusing the police of failure to prevent such an incident, he demanded that the culprits be arrested at the earliest.

(Agencies)

Delhi Police, RSS workers unleash brutality on protesters

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New Delhi: Delhi Police today drew flak as a video emerged in which male police constables can be seen purportedly assaulting protesters, including women, demonstrating over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula near the RSS head office here.

The video went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions. Two journalists, who have alleged that they were beaten up while covering the protest on January 30, claimed that the police action was “unprovoked”.

Asked about the matter, a senior police official said that the video was being “examined”. “Top-level officers are checking that video as well as the one shot by police officers present there,” he said.

In the 30-second clip, apart from police, some men who are not in uniform can also be seen beating up a youth. A constable is seen dragging a female protester by her hair and pushing her down.

Lashing out over the video, AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey tweeted, “What a new low in Indian politics. Male cops beaten up female protesters, RSS workers too joined DP in this brutality (sic).”

Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal said the incident was “unacceptable” and questioned the absence of women constables to control the demonstration that was organised by the Joint Action Committee For Social Justice.

Meanwhile, one of the journalists who was allegedly beaten up, said, “I had gone to cover the protest and found myself being assaulted by members of Delhi Police who also shattered my camera. These policemen were aggressive, possibly because I was shooting pictures at the back of the rally.”

“Male personnel manhandled the female students, dragging and pushing them, scenes that I was about to capture with my camera. This was when the police attacked me,” he claimed on a news portal.

He and a photojournalist, who was also covering the protest, claimed that their cameras were snatched away and later smashed by police.

(Agencies)

Now, RSS all set to launch its Christian wing

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New Delhi: As part of its plan to tighten its grip over Indian society, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is now mulling to launch its Christian wing.

 

The RSS has held meetings with Christian leaders as part of a plan to reach out to the community by setting up an organisation, according to a reliable report.

 

A senior RSS spokesperson confirmed the reports and said that efforts are on to reach out to the Christians and a meeting for the same was held on December 17, 2015.

The proposed Christain Wing will be on the lines of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch that RSS established over a decade ago.

“On December 17, 4-5 Archbishops, 40-50 Reverend Bishops from across 10 to 12 states met and it was decided to develop a movement. This is preparing the ground to lay the seeds for an organisation,” Indresh Kumar, member of RSS’ National Executive, said.

This is said to be the first such outreach to the clergy made through a Sangh-backed initiative.

The December 17 meeting, held in New Delhi, was presided over by Indresh Kumar. Chinmayananda Swami of Vishva Hindu Parishad was also present at the event, called the ‘Christmas Message for Love, Peace and Harmony from Indian Soil’.

It was attended, among others, by Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas of the Gurgaon diocese, Bishop Issac Osthatheous of the Delhi diocese and the general secretary of the Church of North India, Alwan Masih.

The development comes in the wake of an uproar over alleged increase in intolerance under the Bharatiya Janata Party government and political parties accusing the ruling party’s ideological mentor of instigating friction between communities.

(Agencies)

RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya who endorsed beef eating justifies his stance

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Manmohan Vaidya

New Delhi: A senior leader of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who had recently said that RSS members also can eat, has strongly justified his statement.

Manmohan Vaidya, the all-India prachar pramukh of RSS last week addressing reporters in Arunachal Pradesh said that RSS doesn’t dictate food habits.

He said that even though eating beef is not traditional across the country, it is fairly common practice in Arunachal Pradesh.

He said that beef eaters can also become part of RSS. According to the report, there are nearly 3000 RSS members in Arunachal Pradesh alone who consume beef.

Vaidya also firmly rejected charges of growing intolerance in the country. He said people of certain ideologies are always intolerant to contrarian views.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi earlier said that those who beef can go to Pakistan. One is unsure whether he is aware that some RSS members are beef-eaters.

(Agencies)

Opposition protests over remarks of VK Singh, RSS chief disrupts Rajya Sabha

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New Delhi: Rajya Sabha today witnessed two adjournments before noon after BSP launched a vociferous protest over V K Singh’s alleged anti-Dalit remarks and SP created ruckus over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported comments on Ram temple in Ayodhya.

No sooner did the House met and mourned the death of former member M A M Ramaswamy and the listed papers laid, BSP supremo Mayawati rose to say that the government’s attitude over Singh’s comments was “very sad and unfortunate”.

As Deputy Chairman P J Kurien disallowed her and asked her to give a notice for making a statement, her party members rushed into the Well raising anti-government slogans.

Not to be left behind, Naresh Agarwal (SP) raised the issue of reported statement of Bhagwat over the construction of the temple.

Kurien did not allow this as well and asked them to make mentions during the Zero Hour. “Please give notice. This is against rules. You cannot make a statement without notice,” he said. Immediately thereafter, SP members rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans.

Mayawati alleged that social and communal atomsphere in the country has detoriated since BJP came to power, as the government instead of taking action against the rabble-rousers was indulging in soft-peddling such issues.

“Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (anti-Dalit government will not be allowed)”, “V K Singh murdabad (down with V K Singh)”, the BSP members shouted.

With members of the two parties not listening to his pleas for order, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met at 11:30 hours with slogan-shouting BSP members again trooping into the Well.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said while the issue of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was pending in courts, a communally tense situation was being created by Bhagwat’s statement. Alleging collusion between government and RSS, he sought action against Bhagwat. Some of his party members too trooped in the Well.

To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government respected court’s decision on the Ayodhya issue, but people have “fundamental right” to reiterate committment for construction of a temple.

However, he added the construction would be according to the court’s decision. On Singh’s reported remarks, Naqvi also stated that the Minister has repeatedly clarified that he had not made any anti-Dalit comment.

But he could not douse the slogneering as some Congress members also rushed to the Well, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon.

(PTI)

Undermining Constitution – Hindu Nationalist Agenda

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With Modi Sarkar coming to power in the centre (May 2014), the picture of the country has changed drastically for the worse. (1) On one hand nation is witnessing the increasing unrestricted control of Corporate on our economy and on the other the sectarian divides are on the rise. This government had come to power standing on two pillars; one was the corporate world and other the solid support of RSS. Modi promised Acche din and danga mukt bharat (violence free society). The things have been totally in the opposite direction to the promises. (2) The big corporate are shining with expansions as per their liking and labor reforms have been brought in to please them. That, the land reforms envisaged by them could not be cleared that’s another matter. The policies of the state have been so changed as to undermine the importance of the social welfare schemes and all the right based schemes related to employment, health, nutrition and education have been put on the margins.

Despite the falling prices of crude oil globally; the prices are on the rise with the prices of routines commodities like dal (pulses), onions, tomatoes; shooting the sky. The much promised employment creation is nowhere in sight and youth are writhing in the pangs promise betrayed, promise of millions of jobs. The prime goal of the ‘guardian’ state is nowhere in sight. The economic scenario is abysmal for the average person in the society.

As far as the social-communal harmony is concerned the last year and a half has seen a very poor record. The social atmosphere has been so created where the rationalists thinkers like Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi were killed brutally. (3) The low intensity; below the radar violence; has dominated the scene and issues like mosque, church in different places have been used to divide the society. Surely the large scale violence of the type of Mumbai 92-93 or Gujarat 2002 or Kandhmal 2008 have not been, but increase in scattered acts of violence have been tormenting the society. The ruling outfit and its affiliates have been the protectors of the ground level divisive activities.

Hate Speech

During the first year of Modi Sarkar the Hate speech went up to horrendous limits. One recalls that even before Modi Sarkar assumed the seat of power the divisive activities of ‘BJP associates’ in the form of propaganda of love jihad and Ghar Vapasi were on, and they continued without any respite. Soon after this Government came to power; in Pune; Mohsin Sheikh, a person working in IT was hacked to death by activists of Hindu Jagran Sena. The attack on Churches was very glaring and the process which was dominant in Delhi and Haryana was also witnessed in places like Panvel near Mumbai, Agra in UP amongst other places.(4)

Sakshi Maharaj not only said that Godse was a patriot; he also went on to say that Hindu women should produce four children, as Muslims are overtaking the population. Sadhvi Prachi went to prescribe eight children for Hindu women. She also gave a call that the Muslim film actors, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan should be boycotted. Pravin Togadia has been the leading person in making hate speeches; he has the highest number of cases regarding hate speech against him. Yogi Adityanath, BJP’s MP keeps making very derogatory remarks, He said that in ‘love jihad’ if one Hindu girl is converted then 100 Muslim girls should be converted to Hinduism.

As such one realizes that ‘Hate speech’ is the outcome of the politics of divisiveness, it is the concentrated expression of the ‘social common sense’ prevailing in the society, it is the forth right and blunt way of putting things, which communal parties propagate anyway. It is not out of the blue that these formulations suddenly crop up, their infrastructure, the base of these has already been made by a section of political outfits.

Growing Intolerance

When Dr. Dabholkar, Com Pansare and then Prof Kalburgi were killed over a period of months, the danger signals started being perceived but still it took the beef lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri (5) to give a message that something has drastically changed in the society, and the spate of returning of Sahiya Academy, National and state, awards followed in quick succession. (6) Their protest was against the rising intolerance in the society. The incidents that followed and ran parallel to these ‘award-returns’ were equally horrific. The killing of a trucker on the assumption that he is carrying cows for slaughter; beating of a MLA in Kashmir Assembly by BJP legislatures and the scattered incidents of attacks on Muslims on the ground of beef consumption are too striking. The killing of dalits while they were skinning the dead cow; rings the bell of times to come.

The viciousness of atmosphere is not lost on the social perceptions. The insecurity of minorities has gone up by leaps and bounds. One knows that since the present NDA regime came to power all those ‘spewing hate’ are working overtime. For one Akbaruddudin Owaisi there is an army of Sakshi Mahraj, Sadhvis, Yogis and what have you.

Even after the awards started being returned the BJP leadership looked down upon the writers/scholars and overlooked the phenomenon which has lead to returning of awards. Disturbed by what is going on, the President Pranab Mukherjee on number of occasions urged the nation to uphold, pluralism, the core civilizational value of the country and to uphold tolerance. (7) The Vice President Haamid Ansari reminded the Government that it is the duty of the state to uphold the ‘right to life’ of citizens. The index of the changing social atmosphere is reflected by the statements of two outstanding citizens of the country. Julio Reibero, the top cop, expressed his pain and anguish by saying that “as a Christian suddenly I feel stranger in my own country.” (8) And the renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah had to point out that “Have never been aware of my identity as a Muslim until now.”(9)

These are not ordinary times. The values of pluralism and tolerance have been pushed to the margins. With this Government in power all the wings of communal politics, the RSS affiliates, have unleashed themselves in full blast. Communalism is not just the number of deaths due to violence, it is much more. The foundation of this violence begins with the manufacture of perceptions about the religious minorities. These perceptions based on history and some selective aspects of present society are given an anti human tilt and interpretation. This is used to create hatred for the minorities and that’s where the communal elements can unleash violence either as a massive violence like the one’s of Gujarat or Mumbai or Bhagalpur or Muzzafarnagar or the targeted one in Dadri. This creates the divides in society which over a period of time is converted into polarization. And polarization is the foundation of electoral strength of party wanting a nation in the name of religion. As per Yale study, the communal violence is the vehicle which strengthens BJP at electoral level. (10)

Qualitative change in Hate Politics

Many prominent entrepreneurs like Narayan Murthi and Kiran Majumdar Shaw have shown their concern over growing intolerance. In the same boat of those calling for preserving values of pluralism are people like Raghuram Rajan, the RBI Governor. (11) The ruling dispensation, the BJP leaders labeled the whole process as ‘manufactured rebellion’ as put by Arun Jaitley. It has been alleged that those returning awards are the leftists or those who were recipients of privileges from the state when Congress was the ruling party and now with BJP coming to power from last one year, they are baffled and so the protests. It has been alleged that these people are trying to derail the ‘development story’ being written by the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Jaitley even goes to say that Narendra Modi is the victim of intolerance by these people returning their awards. (12)

Why the Awards were returned?

As such what has happened is neither a law and order problem nor the one related to loss of patronage; it is related to the much broader phenomenon related to intense communalization of society. This time the degree of communalization has crossed the civil limits. The jibe that these people did not return their awards at the time of emergency, anti Sikh violence, migration of Kashmiri Pundits and at the time of Mumbai blasts of 1993 is a very superficial way of dealing with the social response to the phenomenon of growing intolerance and its degree. As the awards which have been returned and the statements put out by different groups do give the reasons for the same and these reasons pertains to the cumulative process and not this or that event. The present scenario is in a way a type of climax of divisive politics. All these incidents mentioned by Jaitley and company have been a tragic part of recent Indian history. Many a writers did protest against most of these incidents, many of them had not even been awarded at that time. (13)

The present times cannot be compared with the tragic incidents of the past for various reasons. Take the case of emergency for example. It was a dark chapter of Indian history, still it was the authoritarianism imposed mostly from the top. What is most disturbing in the current times is the vast network of organizations related to the ruling party whose followers either they themselves create hatred in the society or they mobilize the social sectors through hate speech; the result of which is violence. Currently there is a twin attack on the values of tolerance and liberal space. From the top the ruling dispensation has people like Yogi Adiyanath- Sakshi Maharaj, Giriraj Singh, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who keep spreading sectarian message while basking in the glory of power and at the societal level divisive statements prevail.

This is just one case in point. The major factor leading to present atmosphere lies in the qualitative transformation of ‘hate for others’. The stereotyping of minorities which began with Hindu nationalism has assumed horrendous proportions where the likes of Gulzar have to say that now people ask your religion before your name! So while the Jaitleys will keep undermining the steps taken by these people and while the Rajnath Singhs’ will keep dubbing it as a law and order problem, the dissatisfaction amongst those standing for democracy is growing, liberal space and tolerance is shrinking. We will have to keep thinking of more ways to draw the attention of larger sections of society towards the threat looming large on our democratic society, the threat of sectarian propaganda and politics leading to stifling of democratic space. And in these times, the divisive process has assumed menacing proportions.

State Institutions

The major initiative of this government has been to change the heads and composition at the top level of public institutions. Since its assuming power it went for major appointments in the institutions of National importance. Most of these appointments are based on the ideological proclivities of the people rather than their professional competence. In Film and Television Institute of India the appointment of Gajendra Singh Chauhan as the Chairman came up with big opposition from the students of the institutes and also forms the major figures of the film World. (14) The governing board of this and other institutes are being filled with RSS sympathizers. The tampering in other institutes like IITs has led to the resignation of Anil Kakodkar as the chairman of Governing board of IIT Mumbai and of Prof Shevgaokar from the directorship of IIT Delhi. Prof Amartya Sen had to resign from the Chancellorship of Nalanda University. The NBT has also got a Hindutva ideologue, former Panchjanya editor Baldev Sharma as its chief. In the case of ICHR one Prof Y.S. Rao has been appointed as the chairperson. He has no peer reviewed publications and has contributed blogs in the name of History research. He holds that Indian mythology is History and attempts have begun to support research in that direction. As per him the caste system was not bad, its rigidities and evils were introduced after the coming of Muslim kings. Zafar Sareshwala, a businessman close to Narendra Modi, has been given the Chancellorship of Maulana Azad Urdu University in Hydrabad.

Education

Even before this government has come to power many attempts to make the education in confiormity with the RSS, Hindutva world view were being pushed through. In Delhi University A. K. Ramanujan’s classic essay on Ramayana (Three Hundred Ramayanas) was withdrawn under the pressure of ABVP, the RSS affiliate. (15) Dinanath Batra of RSS had been instrumental in getting the academic book by Wendy Doniger ‘The Hindus: An Alternative History’ getting pulped. (16) Batra’s books have already been introduced in the schools of Gujarat. RSS has floated Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti to promote its views through school books. These ideologues from RSS are the major advisors for reviewing curriculum in the states. Rational thinking has been opposed, as exhibited by the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi. RSS affiliated organizations like Vidya Bharati are focusing on Bhartiyakaran of education. They assert that Indian education is not suitable for India and propose to bring in changes aimed to promote Hindutva icons and values. They are trying to appropriate Ambedkar through their efforts. (17)

In the previous NDA regime (1998), the major changes were brought in the field of education which brought in Astrology, Paurohitya and Karmakand as part of the courses. Sanskrit is being introduced at different levels to the extent of replacing German as an additional language at places. This time around RSS seems to be preparing for a total Hindutvisation of education, the samples of which were there in the previous NDA regime with Murli Manohar Joshi doing what came to be known as saffronization of education. (18)

Agenda: Hindu Nationalism

RSS is working for Hindu nationalism, a nationalism which stands in polar opposition to Indian nationalism, as inherent in the values of freedom movement and later in the Constitution of India, the values of Liberty; Equality and Fraternity. The goal of India as ‘a nation in the making’, the plural diverse nation with multiple cultures supplementing each other and enriching the society is opposed by for this organization. They have adopted Hindutva as their politics and Hindu nation as their goal. As per them we have been a Hindu nation from times immemorial and the wisdom of ancient Indian society has all the ingredients for the growth of the nation. This political agenda regards secularism and democracy as the Western concepts which should be done away with. It is in pursuance of this agenda that it kept aloof from freedom movement. It has been propagating a view of history where Muslims and Christians are aliens, foreigners. It attributes the ills of society like caste system to the influence of invading foreigners. (19)

For them the major thing is Hindu unity at societal level. This; they have been doing through their shakha baudhiks and by floating many organizations for this purpose. These organizations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bajrang Dal, Akhil Bhartiya Vidarthi Parishad are doing the propagation of this work through their work in the society. The present degree of communalization-polarization is due to the ceaseless anti minority propaganda. The issues they take are related to identity, like Ram Temple earlier and currently Holy Cow. The issues like love Jihad and Ghar Wapasi also are strong tools in their hands.

The second aspect of Hindu nationalist project has been to infiltrate in bureaucracy, police and other organizations of state. Their trained swayamsevaks join these services and influence the policies. This work as such is in progress but when BJP is in power, this type of work of RSS becomes very intense. Now with BJP having majority in the centre on its own it is moving fast to communalize the state apparatus. This has gone up in intensity in the current times.

When Lal Krishna Advani became the Information and broadcasting minister in Janata Party Government he ensured that most of the media agencies helped by state are taken over by Hindutva volunteers. Currently not only media but also culture, education and science are all being taken over. With this Government the control over institutions of national excellence is going on at a fast pace. (20)

Resistance: Struggle for Democratic Society

The rise of Hindutva politics has been going on from close to a century. This was mainly through RSS shakha baudhiks (intellectual sessions), through education and media apart from the role played by other Hindutva nationalists. This has brought us to a pass where the hate for other community is manifesting as intolerance. This has been strengthened by the use of identity issues, temple, and cow being the major ones, and the proganda related to love jihad, ghar wapasi and terrorist violence. The pyramid of communal politics stands on the ‘hate other’ and the consequent communal violence.

The efforts to save and pluralism and diversity have to be the foundation for all social groups wanting to preserve democratic space. The programmatic unity of these groups on issues related to violation of human rights of weaker section of society is need of the hour. The targeting of religious minorities has to be opposed and their sense of security has to be restored by social and legal struggles for ‘right to life’ as enshrined in our constitution. A multi-layered social platform for defense and nurturing of democratic and human rights is of utmost importance. Here the minor differences between different social political groups have to be overlooked for a broader program based unity, this effort is long overdue.

 

References

1. http://twocircles.net/2015jun18/1434651430.html#.Vk2aUl6V7IU

2. http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani080814.htm

3. http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/14/the-death-of-rationalism-who-killed-dabholkar-pansare-and-kalburgi/

4. http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani150515.htm

5. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/next-door-to-delhi-mob-kills-50-year-old-injures-son-over-rumours-they-ate-beef/

6. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/next-door-to-delhi-mob-kills-50-year-old-injures-son-over-rumours-they-ate-beef/

7. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/multiplicity-plural-character-of-india-must-be-preserved-president-mukherjee/

8. http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/i-feel-i-am-on-a-hit-list/

9. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/talking-of-pakistan-doesnt-make-me-anti-india-naseeruddin-shah/1/499074.html

10. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-gains-in-polls-after-every-riot-says-yale-study/articleshow/45378840.cms

11. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tolerance-essential-for-progress-Raghuram-Rajan-says/articleshow/49606677.cms

12. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/is-pm-modi-the-victim-of-intolerance/1/514542.html

13. https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Anand+Patwardhan+why+I+returned+award&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=dJ5NVsWsL8GjugTSjoTQDw

14. http://peoplesvoice.in/2015/06/16/undermining-national-institutions-to-create-regimented-minds/

15. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/there-are-300-versions-of-the-ramayana-abvp/article2568550.ece

16. https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Wendy+Doniger+The+Hindus+Batra&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=259NVsXbG8XmuQTZobCYDg

17. http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/project-bharatiyakaran-rss-8-point-guide-to-saffronise-education-1442033693.html

18. https://www.saddahaq.com/political-ideology-and-interpretation-of-history

19. http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani240713.htm

20. http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/rss-infiltration-into-state-apparatus-concerns-digvijay/754118

‘More minors being recruited into RSS, trend to go up in future’

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rss-children

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has claimed that its popularity among the minors was on the rise, as 65 per cent of its shakhas in Maharashtra were composed of members between the age group of 12 and 18 years.

Shakha is a place where RSS volunteers gather every day and currently, there were 50,432 shakhas across the country.

As per the RSS data, out of the 3,429 shakhas spread over four regions of Maharashtra– Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Devgiri and Vidarbha– 2,229 are ‘Bal and Tarun Samyukta Shakha’ (Children and Youth Joint Shakhas) for the members between the age group of 12 and 18.

120 of the total shakhas in the state have members between the age of 18 and 40, which together with Children and Youth Joint Shakhas comprise 68 per cent (2,349 out of 3,429 Shakhas) of the total shakhas.

The shakhas with members over 40 years of age comprise around 32 per cent (1,080 out of total 3,429 shakhas) of the total number in Maharashtra, the data said. These figures have helped the RSS to dispel the “allegation” that the organisation was not present among the youth.

Satish Modh, Sanghchalak of Konkan region of RSS told PTI, “Only nine per cent of our shakhas (4,551 out of the total 50,432 at the national level) comprise members over 60 years of age. These figures themselves prove that we are fast becoming popular among the youth and this trend is more likely to go up in the near future.”

He said that as per the figures till September this year, there were 50,432 RSS shakhas at 31,840 locations across the country. “The number would considerably go up by March next year,” he added.

(Agencies)

Lynching, killing cannot damage Hindu culture: Mohan Bhagwat

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Mohan Bhagwat

Nagpur: With Dadri-like incidents triggering outrage, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said such “small episodes” cannot damage “Hindu culture” and praised the Modi government for ushering in hope and confidence in the country and enhancing India’s standing abroad.

 

In his annual Dussehra address at RSS headquarters here, Bhagwat hailed Dalit ikon B R Ambedkar for making provisions in Constitution to remove social and economic inequality faced by the weaker sections, a reference to the quota system, whose review he had recently suggested that pushed BJP on the backfoot in Bihar polls.

In his 55-minute speech, telecast live by Doordarshan for the second consecutive year, he also called for a holistic discussion on population, saying its continuous rise becomes a burden.

“Small episodes happen. They get exaggerated and presented in a big way… Small incidents keep happening but it does not distort Indian culture, Hindu culture. Since time immemorial, it respects diversity, coordinates among diversities to establish unity… This is Hindutva,” he said.

“Our country has stood as one and will stand as one. The Sangh has been doing the work of keeping the nation one on the basis of Hindutva for the last 90 years,” he said.

Bhagwat, however, refrained from making any direct reference to recent incidents of communal and caste tensions.

With several fringe Hindutva elements repeatedly demanding a curb on Muslim population, Bhagwat, without naming any community, favoured a “uniform population policy which is applicable to all”.

He deplored that no holistic discussion has taken place in the country on controlling population.

“With rise in population, the burden on the country will grow. Population growth can be an asset too. If we have more mouths to feed, we will also have more hands to work. We have to plan for 50 years hence. How to provide for the education and health of the people,” he said.

Praising the Centre, he said it had brought about hope and confidence among people that had hit rock bottom under the previous government and spoke about the pet schemes of the Modi government like Jan Dhan, Swachh Bharat and Mudra bank.

(Agencies)

PM, RSS, BJP practising politics of crushing the weak: Rahul Gandhi

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rahul gandhi

Faridabad: Visiting the Dalit family which lost two children yesterday in an attack by upper caste men here, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister, Harayana Chief Minister, the BJP and RSS of practicing “politics of crushing” those who are weak which results in such incidents.

“This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of the state and the entire BJP and RSS. The attitude is if somebody is weak, he can be crushed. What you have seen is the result of this attitude,” Gandhi said.

He was meeting the family of the victims and villagers who had gathered here. Two children died when their house was set afire allegedly by a crowd of upper caste men in the wee hours yesterday.

“In Haryana, there is no government for the poor and poor people are being targeted here which is totally wrong. I have assured the victims’ family that I would do whatever they want from me including pressuring the government.

Asked whether he was doing politics over the incident, Rahul angrily retorted: “This is insulting when someone says it when someone comes here. It is not insulting to me. It is insulting to these people. What is a photo op. What you mean? People are dying. I will keep coming to such places.”

Dalits including children today blocked the Faridabad highway demanding stringent action against the guilty.

Two children of a Dalit family were burnt alive and their parents suffered injuries allegedly after some persons from upper caste set their house afire at Sunped village near Ballabhgarh while they were sleeping.

11 persons, including a father-son duo, have been booked on murder, rioting and other charges, a police spokesman said.

Vaibhav, who was two-and-a-half years old, and his sister, 11-month-old Divya, died after the attackers allegedly poured petrol from the window and set the house ablaze. A religious programme was being held nearby in the village at that time.

Their mother Rekha, 28, suffered serious burns and has been referred to Delhi for treatment, while their father Jitender, 31, too suffered injuries trying to save his family.

After visiting the victims’ family members at Sunped village, Gandhi also met agitating villagers, a majority of them women, who had blocked the Ballabhgarh-Faridabad highway to protest against the incident.

Charging that atrocities against “Dalits and weaker sections” were rising, Congress leader Kumari Selja said that her party “will raise this issue strongly, be it in Parliament and on the streets”.

(PTI)

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