Ex-prez’s tightrope walk that wasn’t
The entry of RSS into mainstream politics in India, using the window created by JP movement is part of history now. RSS was tainted with the accusations of having killed Gandhi. This organization was banned and rejected by people, for not having participated in the freedom movement and subsequently having killed the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. But the same RSS used the phase of emergency very effectively to stage a comeback into the mainstream politics. It’s rather a joke that RSS and Hindu Mahasabha that rests on the dictatorial mode of functioning working on the Hindutva agenda alone, would unite against ‘emergency’ imposed by Indira Gandhi. If leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan had any vision and maintained distance from RSS, the organization would not have been part of mainstream politics now. Owing to JP’s ‘mistake’, RSS has spread in the country like a creeper and the country is paying a price for the soft approach some leaders adapted towards this organisation.
Now, the discussion is raging on the appropriateness of former President Pranab Mukherjee’s participation in RSS event. Some argue this upholds his ‘soft hindutva’ approach that he nurses as a Brahmin. But there are others who believe he gave some strong messages to the organization through his speech emphasizing on tolerance and plurality of the country.
A prominent member of Congress, former Prime Minister who was a Brahmin too P V Narasimha Rao contributed to the growth of RSS by silently concurring the razing of Babri Masjid during his tenure. Now Congress is trying to save face saying Pranab Mukherjee made some very strong points about the strength of this nation, democracy and constitution in his speech at the RSS HQ. Mukherjee’s daughter condemned his decision to be at RSS Hq in the strongest of her words.
Pranab Mukherjee is someone who has maintained his distance from the core values of Congress. He is his own man most times. Though he enjoyed every benefit of office Congress offered to him in terms of plum posts, he always nursed some sort of a silent animosity towards the party that never made him the Prime Minister. He is also a deeply religious person, owing to his Bengali Brahmin roots. He would make regular visits to Tirupati temple even when he was in the office of the President, giving ample opportunity for the media to cover his visits. A person in high office can be religious for sure but then he should not act in a way that puts a question on his religious leanings while in public office. But Pranab Mukherjee would do this more often than not. And it is evident that even BJP nurses soft approach towards him. Now, Mukherjee thinks it is an honour that has been bestowed upon him that RSS invited him to speak at their HQ.
The question here is not whether one should or not participate in the events of a particular organization that has views that are contrary to the one his party holds. The whole issue here is about the invitee organization holding ideals that are totally against the spirit of democracy and constitution of this country. It is no secret what RSS has never accepted this country’s democracy. The founder RSS Hedgewar never approved of secular India and has rejected the Indian flag as categorically as possible. He wanted India to be a ‘Hindu nation’. RSS stands in the position of ‘accused’ in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi. In the recent communal clashes and blasts that were staged in some parts of the country, RSS Chief Indresh Kumar’s name had figured. With all this, Pranab Mukherjee as an astute statesman and former President of India, had a bounden duty to understand the implications of his acceptance. This was not a public programme organized by RSS but a closed event only for its significant members. They already have Golwalkar occupying every bit of their ideology. They want to reject the democracy, change it and turn the country into a Hindu nation. The organization invited Mukherjee in full awareness of what he would address when he speaks here. And looks like Mukherjee was totally fine with the fact. Congress is celebrating his speech stating he celebrated tolerance and plurality in his speech. Mukherjee has also heaped praised on Hedgewar during his speech, despite knowing his opinions about democracy and Indian flag. This was an unnecessary tightrope walk Mukherjee has risked. He wants to be relevant to both sides, and a hero at that. Looks like he silently approves of this whole plot of getting acceptance for Hedgewar. He has joined hands with anti-Democracy forces. With this, he has further damaged the prospects of Congress in the country.
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Devendra Fadnavis plays video of Islamic scholar at Pune rally, harps on 'vote jihad'
Pune, Nov 16: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis continued to raise the pitch on "vote jihad" by playing a video of Islamic scholar Sajjad Nomani at a poll rally in Pune's Bhosari area on Saturday.
It is being said that a person who votes for the BJP must be ostracised, Fadnavis claimed.
"If these people are trying to do vote jihad, if they are saying they will destabilise the government through vote jihad, then you will also have to do dharmayudh of votes," Fadnavis said.
"If these people dream that they will come to power with the help of votes from one community in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, then you will also have to come to the battlefield," he said in a swipe at the MVA.
