The affiliates of the Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP-led government are likely to clash on the issue of second -generation reforms like the privatisation of public sector units and foreign participation being allowed in products reserved for the small-scale sector.
A senior RSS leader said the organisation would not restrain its affiliates from opposing the government's policies. RSS affiliates will oppose the government on policies it feels are detrimental to the country's interest.
Senior RSS leaders, henceforth, would not come to the rescue of the government by stopping activities of these organisations. RSS chief Rajendra Singh had to intervene in favour of Prime Minister AB Vajpayee when some RSS-affiliated bodies created problems for the government on the issue of insurance privatisation.
Leaders of the Bhratiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad are meeting regularly to chalk out a strategy to coordinate their
action in opposing the govern
ment's policies.
The BMS has stated that it will oppose unfettered liberalisation. The SJM is still opposed to the government's decision to open up the insurance sector and is waiting for its opportunity to strike.
The BMS has already opposed government's recent decision to privatise National Fertilizers Ltd.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, another RSS affiliate, yesterday refused to cow down after Prime Minister AB Vajpayee's appeal to maintain restrain and not to cross the Laxman rekha while lodging its protest. The Laxman rekha exists for others as well, senior vice-president Giriraj Kishore said. The VHP has declared that will oppose shooting of Deepa Mehta's controversial film "Water" even in West Bengal and not allow its shooting anywhere.
These RSS affiliates are, however, likely to wait till the presentation of the Union budget so that they get some more points to mobilise public opinion. "We may take about a fortnight to finalise our strategy," a leader of one such organisation said. "We are opposed to the very policy of the government."
Among the major issues that the RSS has not liked is the second generation of reforms like giving FDI routes for the items reserved for small scale and cottage industries.
The SJM and the BMS are particularly hurt as their leaders have been failing to convince their cadre about the government's policies, an RSS leader said.
Senior RSS leaders are also apprehensive that the government may try to toe the line of the United States on the comprehensive test ban treaty. They are reportedly unhappy with the government's Kashmir policy and want it to be more forthright in dealing with the problems there.
