New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s critique of the toxic election rhetoric and his observation that a true “sevak” could not be “arrogant” was not directed at the BJP or the Narendra Modi government, sources in the organisation said.
The organisation also distanced itself from RSS national executive member Indresh Kumar’s comment that the “arrogant” BJP had been stopped at 241 seats. The party won 240 seats this Lok Sabha election.
At an event in Nagpur this week, Bhagwat told RSS leaders and trainees about the qualities a true “sevak” must possess. He said a “sevak” must take pride in his work, but remain “unattached”, and must be “devoid of arrogance”.
An RSS functionary said the comments were not directed at Narendra Modi, and that Bhagwat was calling on all “sevaks”.
“If we look at Mohan Bhagwatji’s previous speeches, they are usually divided in three parts. He talks about the viewpoint of the Sangh, and what he expects from swayamsevaks. In that respect, he mentioned how one shouldn’t be arrogant. Wo swayamsevako ke liye avahan tha ki sewa karo lekin ahankaar nahi,” he said, adding that Bhagwat’s remarks had been taken out of context.
The functionary added that a “deliberate” attempt was made to highlight specific parts of Bhagwat’s speech to distort the whole. “It was presented in a wrong manner, to give a certain impression that there is rift between the two.”
At a programme near Jaipur Thursday, Indresh Kumar slammed the BJP for its “arrogance” and the INDIA bloc for being “anti-Ram”.
He said: “The party which did ‘bhakti’ but became arrogant, was stopped at 241 (240), but it became the biggest party. And those who had no faith in Lord Ram, were stopped at 234.”
The RSS source claimed this was merely Kumar’s opinion. “Why are we linking it with the RSS? We have said many times that the organisation he heads (Muslim Rashtriya Manch) is also not affiliated to the RSS but it is presented as such.”
RSS grouse with Nadda
The right-wing organisation is also very cut up with former BJP president J.P. Nadda for saying before the polls that BJP did not need the RSS. The functionary quoted earlier said that this had demoralised workers and was criticised within the cadre.
He added: “There was no need for that comment and naturally many felt demotivated. Though we did carry out our work as we generally do, the enthusiasm got impacted.”
Nadda had said: “In the beginning, we would have been less capable, smaller and needed the RSS. Today, we have grown and we are capable. The BJP runs itself.”
RSS members have not held back from commenting on the BJP’s political machination. An opinion piece in RSS mouthpiece Organiser by Ratan Sharda called the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) inclusion in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) “ill-advised”. This caused a flutter in Maharashtra political circles.
RSS sources have, however, maintained this was the author’s personal opinion and only the RSS chief, and senior office-bearers are authorised to give official statements.
Meanwhile, the coordination committee of RSS and its affiliates, which also includes the BJP, will take place on 31 Aug to 2 September in Kerala ‘s Pallakkad.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: ‘Oppn not adversary, polls not war,’ says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, urges new govt to prioritise Manipur
There is no use BJP crying over the split milk at this late stage.
BJP seems to have paid a huge political price owing to RSS virtually distancing itself from its poll campaign during just concluded Lok Sabha polls.