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The RSS’s recently concluded three-day meet has all the media talking, all thanks to chief Mohan Bhagwat’s bid to espouse unity.
“RSS has discarded chunks of Gowalkar’s thoughts,” reads The Times of India, referring to the fact that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat answered questions on everything, from Article 35A to why there is no election, only a selection, for his post. (Answer: I do what I want to do because there is a great deal of discussion that takes place behind.)
“The Uniform Civil Code is not just about Hindu, Muslim: RSS chief Bhagwat”, reads the front page of The Indian Express, while NDTV quotes him as saying, “‘LGBTQ Community Part Of Society’: Mohan Bhagwat Keeps Up With Times”.
So compelling is this change, The Indian Express says in an editorial, that this vision could “hold new possibilities for right-wing politics” in India. But only if the sevaks “walk the talk”.
However, underscoring the liberal rhetoric is the firm belief that the Ram Mandir, once built, will end all conflict, and result in “peace” and “unity”.
Meanwhile, the union government has cleared an ordinance to make instant triple talaq a crime, starting another war of words between the Centre and the opposition.
“Talaq ordinance creates instant divide”, reads a headline in The Times of India. While BJP chief Amit Shah said the move would make Muslim women “fearless”, the Congress accused the party of treating the issue like a “political football”.
A report in the paper added that “there is a strong chance of the ordinance lapsing because it is unlikely that the opponents would back off on resistance before the winter session is convened “.
The Hindu criticised the ordinance in an editorial. “Clearly, the Centre wants to demonstrate that it is espousing the cause of Muslim women. But the mere lack of consensus in the House is not a good enough reason to promulgate an ordinance.”
The bill that seeks to criminalise instant triple talaq has been stuck in Parliament owning to the opposition’s protests against provision laying out jail time for the offence.
Prime Time
Decoding RSS
In light of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments at an RSS event over the past few days, India Today TV asked its panelists: “Is RSS changing its strategy before the 2019 elections?”
We say ours is a Hindu Rashtra. Hindu Rashtra does not mean it has no place for Muslims. The day it is said that Muslims are unwanted here, the concept of Hindutva will cease to exist. Hindutva believes that the world is a family),” Bhagwat said Tuesday.
The panelists included RSS thinker Ratan Sharda and Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Sharda said, “What Mohan Bhagwat has said is a reassertion of what we have seen over the years, this is what RSS is committed from day one of its formation.”
Chaturvedi replied, “The RSS is not the gatekeeper of the entire Hindu dharma. Also, despite its claim that they are not going to involve themselves in politics, they very much do so.”
Talking triple talaq
As the union Cabinet cleared the triple talaq ordinance Wednesday, CNN News 18 asked whether the opposition will come on board for the “fight for women’s rights”.
Defending the government, academic and RSS supporter Geeta Bhatt said, “In Congress, there have been sexual harassment charges by women party workers, how can they bat for women rights?”
Jaiveer Shergill of the Congress said, “RSS leader M.S. Golwalkar wrote that all Muslims are mini-Pakistani time-bombs and Christians are bloodsuckers.”
News it’s just kinda cool to know
Scientists have found evidence that suggests nuclear material beneath the surface of neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe and “10 billion times stronger than steel”. The paper detailing the findings was published in the journal Physical Review Letters.