Bhagwat expected to lunch with tribals at Kumbh tomorrow

In a bid to strike a consolatory note with the tribals, RSS head Mohan Bhagwat is planning to have his afternoon meals with them at the Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela underway in Ujjain tomorrow.
His move comes after BJP president Amit Shah took a 'Samrasta snan' and 'bhoj' with Dalit sadhus and others at the Mela today.
Bhagwat and tribals are expected to lunch together on the banks of Shipra river at the Kumbh Mela. Later, the RSS chief will address a Janjati (tribals) sammelan (meet) at 4 pm, RSS's Vanwasi Kalyan Parishad Pranth (MP region) organising secretary, Pravinji Dolke told PTI today.

The move is being translated in political circles as a step aimed at striking a chord with the tribals.
Sangh Parivar head Mohan Bhagwat had stirred a hornet's nest and ruffled feathers of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes by calling for review of reservation policy during the run-up to the Bihar Assembly polls last year.
The statement had boomeranged and apparently led to BJP's drubbing in the caste-ridden polls. Bhagwat's statement had come under scrutiny within the Sangh Parivar with some BJP leaders pointing a finger at the RSS chief for BJP's debacle.

RSS is running a nationwide campaign this year to promote what it calls "social harmony" among Hindus apparently with an eye to win over tribals and Dalits which are key to BJP's hopes of wresting power in Uttar Pradesh, going to polls next year.

The RSS has already held discussions on samajik samrasta (social harmony) in its shakhas (morning get-together classes) from January 3-10 in Madhya Pradesh.
"Also, we have organised common meals and get-togethers across the country in which Dalits and tribals participated," a RSS leader said, adding, Samajik Samrasta yajnas are also being organised.