RSS calls Sonia naquli Gandhi

MANDATE 2004

In one of its calculated move to mobilize the RSS cadres on the issue of injured pride, the RSS launched a frontal attack on the Congress and its leader Sonia Gandhi by referring them as "naquli Congress and Naquli Gandhi".

Taking exception to the remarks of Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal who claimed that the RSS was never involved in the freedom struggle, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav gave a three page hand-out to claim that the RSS founder KB Hegdewar and RSS activists always helped to strengthen the freedom struggle.

Apparently, the display of injured innocence by Madahav was deliberately contrived to galvanise the cadre on the eve of the polls on a negative sentiment- against the Congress.

Madhav said that though the RSS was averse to getting involved in the electoral mobilisations, the constant attacks on the RSS had prompted the Sangh to direct its cadre to raise the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin issue.

"The Congress want to impose Rome Rajya instead of Ram Rajya and we would not let that happen" was the RSS's battle-cry which is intended to touch the emotional chord of the RSS cadres in the country.

In an apparent display of the belligerence, Madhav said that the Congress led by Sonia Gandhi had no right to claim the legacy of the great congress which fought for swaraj. "Sonia Gandhi's only qualification is her matrimonial alliance in a family" he said.

In a remark calculated to stir the hornet's' nest, Madhav said , " we respect all bahus whether they are brought from Italy or Columbia". The reference to Columbia was targetted at Rahul Gandhi's columbian girl friend.

He also referred to the role of the left parties during the freedom struggle and said that the Congress has become a bed-fellow with the left parties.

The RSS's outbursts against the Congress is well-timed to help the BJP to take maximum advantage of the mobilisation by the RSS cadres. By taking a stance that the Congress and Sonia Gandhi are "naqli (fake)", the RSS is consciously pushing the BJP's agenda to fill the vacuum of the mainstream politics caused by the capitulation of the Congress leadership.

This was also reflected in the manner in which Madhav referred to Mahatma Gandhi and other Congress leaders in respectable manner while reserving the most acerbic remarks against the Congress leadership under Sonia Gandhi.

By all account, the RSS leadership's decision to mobilise workers against the Congress and Sonia Gandhi is carefully planned to help the BJP in dierctly.

Since the BJP leadership is frowned upon by a section of the Sangh Parivar's hardliners, the Sangh Parivar has evolved this new strategy which may evoke positive response from the cadres of the RSS and its sponsored constituents.