Ideology first, individual last, says RSS

In a message that could mean different things to different people in the Sangh Parivar, the Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) meeting today started off with the resolve to tell the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Ideology first, organisation next and individual last.

As the symbolism-laden discourse between the BJP and the RSS continued, BJP chief LK Advani added his own message meant to be delivered to the RSS in a language they could understand.

At a function to celebrate the 86th birthday of Terapanth Jain Sect head Acharya Shri Mahapranja, in Delhi, Advani said he treated the Bhagwad Gita as a guide. "I feel that this great book is a guide to everyone. It has relevance in everyone's life," the BJP leader said.

Only a fortnight ago, Advani, who had equated himself with Arjun in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, had said the events that followed his controversial visit to Pakistan had relation with the Gita and the Mahabharat.

Advani said nowadays the Gita was read not only as a part of religious activity. "I had a chance to talk to a top army personnel and he said whenever he felt uneasiness, he turned to this great book," Advani said.

In Surat, where the RSS was meeting to review organisational matters, the understanding was somewhat different. Sangh sources said the brass was not only concerned over the erosion of ideology within the Parivar but also the growing tendency among the party leaders to attack the RSS and display personal loyalties.

"It is not the issue of Advani's statement. It is the tendency towards the personality-based politics, polarisation of individual loyalties and attack on the RSS even by small-time leaders that are worrying," a senior RSS leader said.

Over 140 delegates including key functionaries of Parivar outfits and state organisers are attending the meeting whose stated agenda includes review of its training programmes and birth centenary celebrations of second RSS chief Guru MS Golwalkar.

The relations with the BJP and related issues are expected to be raised when the current political situation in the country is taken up for discussion at the meet.

The meeting is important because it comes in the midst of an unprecedented attack and misunderstanding among the various branches of the Sangh.

Normally an arbiter, the Sangh leadership has become a player in what is essentially a tussle for power among the various branches of the Sangh.

The ongoing meeting in Surat is unlikely to resolve fundamental issues, but could begin unravelling issues that have been exploding out in the open since the BJP lost political power.