The former President goes to the headquarters of RSS in Nagpur and talks about the idea of Nehruvian nationalism and the supremacy of the Constitution.
New Delhi: Former president of India Pranab Mukherjee Thursday chose the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur to deliver the idea of Nehruvian nationalism and supremacy of the Constitution, in a clear repudiation of the Sangh’s ideology marked by Hindutva nationalism.
In the process, Mukherjee also silenced the Congress snipers, including his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee, who had raised strong objections to his visit to the RSS headquarters apprehending that it would give legitimacy to the RSS, the ruling BJP’s ideological patron.
“India resides in pluralism and tolerance, not in one language or one religion,” Mukherjee asserted. “The Constitution of India represents the hopes and aspirations of a billion plus Indians. From our Constitution flows our nationalism. The construct of Indian nationalism is constitutional patriotism.”
Quoting from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India, he said “nationalism can only come out of the ideological fusion of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other groups in India.”
The former president who spent most of his five-decade long political career as a Congressmen termed the Indian constitution as ‘the Magna Carta’ for the socio-economic transformation of the country.
The RSS has for long been seeking a change in the Constitution of India to make it more in line with what it calls the Indian value system. The Sangh is known to have reservations about the mention of ‘secularism’ in the Preamble of the Constitution. It has also been critical of Nehru’s political ideologies.
Both Mukherjee and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stressed on the need for ‘unity in diversity’, although the streams of thought behind this were different. “No Indian isparaya (outsider),” said Bhagwat while expostulating on RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar’s idea of an organised ‘Hindu Samaj’.
While Mukherjee visited Hedgewar’s memorial and called the RSS founder “a great son of Mother India”—in the visitor’s book—he skipped any mention of the RSS or its contribution to India’s Independence in his speech.
“Our national identity has emerged after a long-drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant,” said Mukherjee. “Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our identity.”
He also gave a subtle reposte to his party colleagues who were critical of his visit to the RSS headquarters: “We may agree or disagree but dialogue is necessary to solve the complex problems for the evolution of the society. In a democracy, informed and reasoned public engagement on all issues of national importance is essential. A dialogue is necessary not only to balance the competing interests but also to reconcile them.”
Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary and a former RSS spokesperson, lauded the speech.
“Great address by Dr Pranab Mukharjee at Nagpur. His address n Dr Bhagwat’s address in a way complementary to each other. Nation First is d core message of both. Democracy n striving for d welfare of all d people is described by both as d core of ancient Indian nationalism,” Madhav tweeted.
The former president’s speech forced many sniping Congressmen to eat their words as the party officially praised Mukherjee for showing “a mirror” to the RSS and teaching “Raj Dharma” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It is important to look at what Pranab Mukherjee said as a guest to the RSS, about the pluralism, diversity and tolerance of our society,” said Randeep Surjewala, chief spokesman of the Congress. “Mukherjee has shown a mirror to the RSS and the BJP and it is up to them to course correct the mistakes they have done.”
On the question of dialogue with all thought processes, the Congress blamed it on the RSS for not being ready to change. “Dialogue can only be with those who are willing to listen, absorb and change,” said senior Congress leader Anand Sharma. “There is nothing to suggest that RSS has moved away from its core agenda as it seeks legitimacy.”
Hours before his speech Congress released a video and statement on Twitter blaming RSS for the murder of Mahatma Gandhi. In the short video, Congress said that RSS presented a revolver to Nathuram Godse.
Today is a very fitting day to bring you all a primer on what the RSS really stands for. pic.twitter.com/m1oQ15nkDJ
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 7, 2018
Congress went on to say that RSS distributed sweets after Gandhi was killed.
It is imperative for all Indians to know what the RSS has historically stood for and to understand what it thinks today. People of India should never forget how antithetical their ideologies are to the idea of India.https://t.co/j3DoUsaftu
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 7, 2018
Ever since Pranab Mukherjee accepted the invitation to visit RSS headquarters and address future pracharaks on 7 June, a host of reactions came from Congress leaders. While some reacted strongly, some were surprised and others were anguished.
The strongest reaction came from Mukherjee’s daughter and Delhi Mahila Congress president Sharmistha Mukherjee. In two consecutive tweets, Sharmistha criticised her father for agreeing to attend the RSS event.
“By going to Nagpur, you are giving BJP/RSS full handle to plant false stories, spread false rumours as today and making it somewhat believable. And this is just the beginning,” she wrote in one of the tweets.
Senior Congress leader and political advisor to Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel while retweeting Sharmistha just said: “I didn’t expect it from Pranab Da.”
Congress leaders also said they were shocked to see the images of Mukherjee at the RSS headquarters. “The image of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS headquarters has anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian republic,” said Sharma.
Congress leaders such as Ramesh Chennithala and Jairam Ramesh had even written letters to Pranab Mukherjee requesting him not to attend the RSS function.
At a book launch ceremony on 30 May, another Congress leader, P. Chidambaram, clearly said had he been invited he would have not accepted the invitation. However, he added, “Now when you have accepted it Sir please go and tell them what is wrong with their ideology.”
RSS has to grow and change a lot. Now only they have grown from half trousers to full trousers. Once they come of age, they will realise and understand the broadbased concepts like pluralistic society, secularism, nationalism unity in diversity, social inclusion and multiculturalism. They have to grow a lot. I dont know it will take place in one century or not. They can never be trusted and they will never change. They pretend and they hypocrites.
I wish the former President had spoken for about an hour, although to the discerning, even a few paragraphs distilled the essence of his lifelong devotion to the Constitution, as a student, scholar and practitioner. His friends in the Congress party may have been dismayed by his acceptance of the invitation. However, they should have been sanguine about his convictions and world view. He was received with the courtesy and deference due to his record of public service and he was a gracious guest, did not cross any red lines. However, he did not play to the gallery, said nothing because someone would be pleased to hear it. How much his words will register and resonate is difficult to judge. The seven hundred odd young men who graduated today ought to feel privileged that he was present to address them and give them his blessings. Sometimes, when faced with difficult moral choices, they might wish to recall snippets of his speech.