Opinion View from the Right

The editorial notes: “The mammoth rally organised by the BJP in the capital on April 21 became a major political event not only because of the huge mobilisation from all walks of life,but also because it was one of the biggest ever mass rallies against the Central government in the past many years… The BJP’s successful and timely initiative in taking the continuing food scarcity and rising prices to the people,is a step in the right direction…” An accompanying news item in the same issue of Organiser,titled “BJP anti-price rise rally a huge draw” adds that the BJP brass,including party veteran L.K. Advani and Gadkari “took the UPA government to task” on rising prices.

Remembering Thengadi

The RSS,and the wider parivar,consider Dattopant Thengadi a thinker-organiser par excellence,who besides founding the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh,was a passionate advocate for “A Third Way”,after rejecting both communism and capitalism. The latest issue of RSS mouthpiece Organiser carries a report on “First Dattopant Thengadi Memorial Lecture” held in Nagpur that was addressed by BJP president Nitin Gadkari,top RSS functionary Madan Das and BJP national secretary P. Muralidhar Rao. Gadkari is quoted as having said at the function: “Economic equality,social harmony and cultural nationalism formed the base of the thought process of the late Dattopant Thengadi… He was a great thinker,expert organiser and social activist. His life was his mission”. Madan Das is quoted as having said that “Thengadiji’s greatness lies in the fact that while working within the framework of the RSS,he created organisations for transforming society into a single Hindu family”. Rao is quoted as having said at the Nagpur function that the “late RSS leader introduced the family concept in the labour movement and he stressed on the ideology that industrialists and workers were members of one family.”

Postmodern Hindutva

The Organiser also carried news reports on the events attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat,and his second-in-command,Bhaiyyaji Joshi. At a sangh samagam (conclave of RSS volunteers) at Ranchi,Bhagwat is quoted as having said that “Hindutva is a post-modern thinking,having a holistic approach and speaking the language of love beyond the borders,for the whole world.” He is reported to have reiterated the organisation’s reservations against any move to grant religion-based reservations. The RSS chief is also reported to have warned against “China’s repeated claims over Arunachal Pradesh” and “Bangladesh claiming ownership of 300 Indian villages”. Bhaiyyajii Joshi,on the other hand,is quoted as having said at a function in Jaipur that “it’s the responsibility of the media to play a constructive role and give right direction to those who are moving on the wrong path.”

IPL to Maoism

The columnists in the latest issue of the RSS mouthpiece discuss various themes — from IPL to the Indian diaspora. M.D. Nalpat argues that “IPL is a can of worms” and that “there’s a need to cleanse Indian cricket of sleaze,betting,match fixing,money laundering and terror links”. Jay Dubashi raises the question that “Indians are being ill-treated everywhere”. “They are being hounded in England and Europe and they are being lynched in Africa. But our government says nothing,does nothing,” he laments. M.V. Kamath on the other hand says that “revolution” has become an “outdated concept” and says that the “Maoists should get the message that there is a strong government in Delhi which will not accept armed rebellion anywhere and those who indulge in it will have to pay a heavy price”.