After Bhagwat's nod, Sangh outfits getting ready for face-off with govt over core issues

Be a corrective force for the govt, RSS chief tells affiliated organisations

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is adding muscle to the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM)’s campaign against products of US multinational companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lux, Lifebuoy, and that of Chinese firms.

Directions have been given to workers to set up working groups at district and town levels to undertake the Manch’s current and “future” campaigns. Last month, the RSS had given a call in all its shakhas across the country, during the gurudakshina festival, to boycott foreign brands.

SJM’s national convener Ashwani Mahajan had told Business Standard that this was the second time that the RSS directly taking up the Manch campaign in a big way.

However, Sangh watchers say the SJM campaign is just a façade and the real target is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s economic policies.

“There is a sense of urgency within the organisation. The Sangh fears it would have to cross swords with the Narendra Modi-led government over economic and educational issues. For instance, there have been conflicting signals coming from the government over permission for field trials of genetically modified crops,” said a Sangh insider, who did not want to be named.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and SJM on Tuesday came down heavily on the government over the alleged flip-flop over the government’s stance on GM crops. “There might be pressure from American multinationals on ministers. The government should take into account interests of the farming community also,” said Prabhakar Kelkar, general-secretary, BKS.

Recently, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has asked affiliated organisations such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), SJM and BKS to work as the “corrective force” and not to hesitate to raise their voice if the government moved away from the Sangh’s core issues.

This remark came as a response to a question from a participant at an RSS conclave, held between August 1 and 3 in Bhopal. According to a top Sangh outfit leader, the participant asked Bhagwat whether his organisation “should accept Modi as the supreme leader and remain a mute spectator” if the government went against the pet issues. “No,” Bhagwat said in his response to this poser. He then called upon the ABVP, Vidya Bharati, BMS, and BKS to take up issues concerning their respective fields to launch agitations, should the situation warranted so. He told the participants there was “no need to be complacent”, said the leader.

Top leaders of all Sangh-affiliated organisations were invited to the conclave. While the BJP was represented, there was no member of Parliament, or minister from the Centre or states.

According to sources, the BMS members raised the issue of labour reforms being carried out by the Rajasthan government and the lathicharge on protesters by the state police. “About 25,000 BMS workers were protesting against the anti-labour attitude of the state government and they were mercilessly lathicharged,” said a BMS leader.

RSS sources say the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been asked to lie low for now and to give the government at least ‘one year’; and not raise contentious religious issues such as Ayodhya. Earlier also, the RSS had prevented VHP leaders such as Pravin Togadia from raking up controversial issues and airing differences with the government through the media.