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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) might claim to be a cultural organisation but no one sets the political agenda in the country as explicitly as RSS does. The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat delivered his customary Vijayadashmi speech in Nagpur Thursday and made it to the lead story on the front pages of nearly all the English news dailies Friday.
The headlines are all about his statement seeking a law to pave the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Bhagwat didn’t mince words in criticising ‘urban naxals’ for eroding the fear of law. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi accompanied the RSS chief on stage.
In its report, The Indian Express writes that the last time RSS chief raised the issue of Ram temple in his Vijayadashami speech was in 2012.
Sabarimala remained on the boil for the second consecutive day Thursday. On its front page, Hindustan Times writes, “Sabarimala remains on edge, women kept out”.
The New York Times journalist Suhasini Raj, who attempted one of the most publicised visits to the shrine, was turned back. The Telegraph has her story on page one. The Times of India has even put her photo on the first page. The New York Times put out the story of her journey with the headline “Religion and Women’s Rights Clash, Violently, at a Shrine in India”.
Citing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s criticism of the Sabarimala verdict, The Indian Express in its editorial writes, “RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reference to Sabarimala in his Vijayadashami speech is significant, and disturbing.”
It further adds, “What is even more contentious than these claims is Bhagwat’s provocative suggestion that Hindu society is experiencing ‘repeated and brazen onslaughts on its symbols of faith’ and that the court order on Sabarimala was one such instance.”
Reporting on the political turmoil in the wake of the protests, The Indian Express on its front page writes, “Congress boxed in, BJP benefits and CPM scrambles for cover in rapidly shifting Sabarimala politics”.
Prime Time
Did Congress use Facebook ads to attack Narendra Modi in Pakistan?
Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami debated the claims of Congress’s ‘sponsored advertisements’ on Facebook in Pakistan.
On Thursday, BJP’s IT head Amit Malviya tweeted an image of the Congress Facebook page, saying, “Official Congress page sponsoring advertisements on Facebook in Pakistan to remove Modi!”
During the show, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma questioned the intention of Congress party, while political analyst Abdul Razack Khan said it’s not going to impact the general elections in India.
Sharma said, “The intention of Congress party needs to be questioned. Why would they need to promote the post in Pakistan?”
Khan said, “Does this impact in India? Are they going to vote in 2019?”
Why is RSS raising the Ram temple issue again and again?
India Today anchor Rahul Kanwal debated the possible implications of the RSS pushing for a law to build the Ram temple.
On Thursday, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the government should enact a law to build Ram temple at Ayodhya. Bhagwat also warned against judicial activism, asking judges to be mindful of traditions and the Indian family system while pronouncing judgments.
During the show, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen’s Waris Pathan said BJP is trying to raise the Ram temple issue to garner votes, while BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi said their only concern is to quickly build the temple.
Pathan said, “Because BJP can’t fulfill its other promises, it is raising the Ram Mandir issue.”
Ilmi said, “The only concern now is how early we can build the Ram Mandir.”
News it’s kinda cool to know
A new study showed microplastic in 90 per cent of the table salt brands sampled worldwide, reports National Geographic.
The density of plastics varied across several brands, but it was especially high among the Asian ones, according to the study, published this month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.