RSS Chief Bhagwat in MP: Attempt at Gaining Support for CAA?

Bhopal: To quell the voice of dissent against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Madhya Pradesh and drum up support for it, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat began his three-day interaction with pracharaks in the state capital on Monday.

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been considered as nurseries of the RSS, but since the Congress managed to trounce the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in both the states in December 2018, Bhagwat is likely to review the growing influence of Congress through its ‘soft-Hindutva’ agenda in the Madhya Bharat region.

“Sarsanghchalak ji is on a week-long tour of Madhya Bharat region to take part in various programmes and will hold meeting with the senior functionaries and pracharaks,” said Omprakash Sisodia, regional publicity in-charge of RSS’s Madhya Bharat region.

Talking about the three-day long Bhopal event, he said, “He held interactions with the pracharaks (publicity in-charge) from MP and Chhattisgarh on the first day and discussed issues related to youths, their active participation on social media and role as RSS volunteers. Bhagwat ji will focus on various other issues during deliberations with the ‘vibhag pracharaks’ and members of BJP and other frontal organisations on the second and last day of his stay.”

Sources in BJP disclosed that during interaction with workers and the BJP leaders, the RSS chief is most likely to discuss public response to the decisions taken by the Narendra Modi government and the protests against the CAA going on in the both the states.

The Sangh’s three-day programme is being seen as an effort to quell dissent among the people against the new citizenship law and drum up the support for the central government. The pracharaks will be handed over district-wise plans to reach out to youths, sources added.

Countering Congress With Soft Hindutva

In the meeting, the RSS functionaries have shown concern about the growing influence of Congress through its ‘soft Hindutva’ agenda and the declining base of BJP in MP and other neighbouring states.

After gaining power in MP, the Kamal Nath government bluntly played Hindutva card to counter the BJP’s Hindutva narrative. From construction of 1,000 cow shelters, funding Sita Mata temple in Sri Lanka, organising Ramleelas in villages, to construction of Ram Van Gaman Path through a trust, development projects for Mahakal Temple, increase in honorarium of temple priests, development of the Narmada Yatra rout and so on. The Congress is doing all it can to rub its anti-Hindu image off.

“The pro-Hindu decisions of the Kamal Nath government have impacted the public. These need to be discussed,” revealed a senior RSS member.

Bhagwat is also likely to review the work and roadmap of RSS affiliates, including the students’ wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). A similar meeting of RSS pracharaks of Madhya Bharat region was held here five years ago, sources said.

Taking a dig at RSS Chief’s presence in the State capital, Congress Public Relations Minister PC Sharma said, “Bhagwat ji will be in MP. I request him not to provoke youths during his stay in the state.”

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