Why Modi government should be more grateful to RSS
The BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has shared a strange relationship with Indian polity - having received more brickbats than bouquets and being more strongly disliked than liked by political parties. Still this cadre-based organisation holds considerable influence over a large section of the people. The RSS has been banned on three separate occasions since independence - first for over a year after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, second time for about two years during Emergency and the third time for six months after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.
The RSS has largely been seen as an organisation that seeks to polarise Hindus against the minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians. It is ridiculed for the extra-baggy khakhi knicker-wearing "swayamsevaks" who wield "laathi" in self-defence in this age of AK-47s and what not. It is blamed for attempts to promote regression in society and suppression of women. Most of all, the RSS is accused of controlling its political wing, the BJP, with a remote and, whenever the party is in power, deciding the course of the government too. However, of late, RSS and its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, in particular seem to have undergone a complete transformation. Their views on some burning issues are quite modern and progressive, and go on to prove that the BJP is being guided the right way, and these are the reasons why:
1. Reservation policy
On September 20, Bhagwat advocated a review of the reservation policy, arguing that it has been used to meet political ends. He suggested the setting up of an apolitical committee to find out the needy people and the time span for which they would require reservation. His remarks have come at the height of agitation launched by Gujarati Kurmi-Patidar community led by Hardik Patel to include them in the OBC category.
Several Congress leaders are of the same view. Last week, former Union minister Jitin Prasada asked the party leadership to spearhead the demand for a "relook at the backward reservation policy" for "imaginative and politically daring inclusion and exclusion of groups from the benefits of reservation". He favoured doing away with the Mandal politics dominated by a handful of OBCs and adopting a bold policy which gave reservation to the "most backward castes" and "poor upper castes" in job reservations.
Strangely, Congress leaders, who do not want to miss the slightest of opportunities to lash out at the RSS, echoed Bhagwat's view this time around. Former Union minister Manish Tewari said it was debatable whether we should have reservation and, if yes, what should be the basis of it, whether it should be changed from caste to economy.
Interestingly, while the Congress supported Bhagwat's stand, BJP rejected it outrightly. "Our government is not in favour of making any change in the existing reservation policy for the SCs, STs, backward castes and extremely backward castes. We believe that it is necessary for their economic, educational and social progress. There is no need to reconsider it," said Union minister for information technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
While the RSS thinks in the long term, the BJP's concern is immediate. The crucial Bihar Assembly elections are not even a month away and caste plays the most important role there. The BJP is trying to woo the OBCs and Dalits, who are beneficiaries of the quota policy in educational institutions and government jobs. BJP's rebuttal was swift as Bhagwat's remarks had the potential to damage the party-led NDA's chances. For many BJP leaders, RSS chief's view on reservation system may be right but politically incorrect in view of the upcoming Bihar polls.
2. Hinduism
On September 13, while talking in a columnists' conference on "Indian perspectives on women's issues" in Jaipur, the RSS chief called for a reassessment of Hindu religious values and said that those values which did not conform to scientific bases should be given up. It could be termed as one of the boldest and most forward-looking statements of Bhagwat ever. Women and several lower castes have been relegated to second class status on the basis Hindu customs and traditions but which do not have any scientific background. Just about two-and-a-half years ago, the same RSS chief had created furore by stating that Hindu husbands should be breadwinners and women should just be housewives as both are involved in a contract to that effect.
However, Bhagwat has taken a U-turn for the good of Hindu religion. His stand will certainly egg the BJP on to take more steps for women's empowerment. For instance, taking affirmative steps like passage of long pending Women's Reservation Bill and welfare measures facilitating their education and employment will go a long way in improving the condition of women. Taking meaningful steps to prevent evils like foeticide, infanticide, dowry and rape should be simultaneously taken. The Narendra Modi government has already given a boost to women's empowerment by announcing 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces of all union territories, including Delhi Police, through direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts. Modi promoted the importance of girl children by launching the #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao scheme as well as the campaign #SelfieWithDaughter on Twitter. But more such initiatives are needed to be taken.
3. Good governance
Bhagwat has said that "mere change of guard is not enough" and expressed reservations about the "present-day politics" which was power-centric. He dismissed the race among parties to view politics in terms of electoral defeats and victories. "At present, politics is not for the nation, not for the last man standing but revolves around the interests of political parties," he said.
This comes after Modi's discussion with Bhagwat and other senior RSS leaders at the concluding session of the three-day "RSS samanway baithak" (coordination meeting) in the first week of September. The prime minister is learnt to have told them the possibility of the higher echelons of the government getting cleansed of corruption and sought time, public awareness and support from the RSS for that to fructify. It is clear that, for an efficient and people-centric rule, the RSS is keeping a tab on the governance initiatives of the Modi government in all sectors - economy, foreign relations, education, health and law and order.
4. Relation with Pakistan and Bangladesh
The RSS chief has called for engagement and not confrontation with neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Taking a historical approach, he said the entire Indian subcontinent is a Hindu nation. To buttress his point, the RSS chief quoted history and said how the Arabs used to pronounce "Sa" as "Ha" and, hence, they called us Hindu because of the river Sindhu. Pakistan and Bangladesh were parts of India before being created in 1947 and 1971 respectively, he said, and also endorsed Modi government's "direction, intent and commitment" in the past 14 months in this direction. RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale downplayed the hostility between India and Pakistan, saying such things happen "in a family...between brothers" and one should move on and work to improve relationships.
No wonder, despite calling off talks with Pakistan, India still goes to the negotiating table. Besides, it has not only settled the long-pending boundary issues with Bangladesh but also inked an agreement with the neighbouring country. Cordial relations with not only Pakistan and Bangladesh but also other neighbours like China, Sri Lanka and Nepal are desirable in the larger interest of the nation.
5. Hindi
On September 10, Hindi Diwas, the RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya sought promotion of Hindi. This may be considered a regressive and divisive stand by many, especially by the non-Hindi speaking states in the South and Northeast, but here the RSS' intent has to be evaluated. The RSS wants to unite the country on the basis of language. Panchjanya said Hindi had the potential to unite the country and "chase away" English, which has "enslaved" India. Quoting from history, it said the Constitution makers wanted the national language to replace English in 15 years, however, the "centres of power" were not dedicated to Hindi and "hatched conspiracies" to organise other Indian languages against it. It said Hindi was the language of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh and that English has been thrust upon us by the Britishers.
Speaking in Bhopal on Hindi Diwas, Modi too aired RSS' view and said in the days to come, three languages - English, Chinese and Hindi - will be influential in the digital world and added that the language market is huge and companies can tap into it by creating apps. Hence, while the RSS seeks to unite India on Hindi, Modi exhorts the people to take up Hindi for economic reasons.