RSS to fight back Oppn ‘false narratives’ on caste, other divisions, bid to ‘stoke tension’

Sources said the RSS focus was on fighting back “vested interests” among the Opposition trying to create social divisions to corner the BJP.

Over the next one year, Sangh cadres will hit the ground across the country, with a prime agenda being trying to minimise instances of caste discrimination. In the last one year, RSS sources said, the Sangh has studied more than 13,000 villages for prevalence of caste discrimination, whether in terms of separate wells, crematoria or restriction on entry into temples.

“The shakhas have to work towards ensuring social harmony, fighting untouchability, ensuring everyone gets entry into temples, everyone has equal access to crematoria, everyone sits and eats together at village weddings. Wherever our workers have been successful in achieving this, we have decided to compile such efforts,” RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on the concluding day of the ABPS.

Stressing that the RSS can’t “lose sight of social harmony”, a Sangh leader argued that while the people supported the Modi government despite differences, the Opposition always stoked the same. “Election after election it has been proven that people are rising above caste and voting for the Modi government. He has been able to create a narrative of a united Hindu society and national pride. Forces in the Opposition are trying to distort this by highlighting social fissures,” the leader said,

A BJP leader cited the Mandal agitation, pitched against kamandal (the Ram temple movement), as an example of this “time-tested formula” of the Opposition. “That is why you have controversies such as Ramcharitmanas being stoked, Dalit and tribal issues being raised or a narrative of language and gender divide being created,” the leader told The Indian Express.

In all, the RSS identified “five fronts” to work on over the next one year to the 2024 polls: Samajik Samrasta (social harmony), Parivar Prabodhan (preserving family values), Paryavaran Sanrakshan (Environment Protection), Swadeshi Acharan (inculcating behaviour inclined towards Swadeshi) and Nagarik Kartavya (duty of citizens).

The RSS annual report 2022-23 also spoke categorially about “attempts to create social fault lines”. “Forces inimical to Bharat’s unity and progress plan newer conspiracies. Trying to break society… by disseminating perverted narratives… has become their agenda,” the report said, listing “instigating language, caste or group discord by using any situation or event of society as an excuse”, “inciting youth against any government scheme like Agnipath”, “ugly incidents of terror”, “rancour”, “anarchy” etc.

Hosabale, in fact, broached the subject of caste multiple times while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement saying the caste system was not ordained by God but created by “Pandits” was also touched upon. With the Opposition latching onto this, the RSS said Bhagwat meant “Pundits” or intellectuals rather than “Pandits” or Brahmins.

“The country’s narrative needs to change. India’s question paper should get India’s answers… So, there are many issues of Indian thought and philosophy. Some people within the country and abroad have tried to distort it. There has been an attempt to malign the Hindutva thought. We accept there are some deficiencies in our society, such as untouchability. But to just underline these deficiencies… is not good. Even positive aspects of the country have been impacted by the distorted presentation of history by some. The Sangh will keep working on creating the right narrative,” Hosabale said.

The focus on social harmony, apart from women’s empowerment, also ran through the statements released by the RSS of Mahavir Jain, Dayanand Saraswati and Shivaji.

One of the statements said, “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is of the view that a true tribute can be paid to Maharishi Dayanand only by building a cultured vibrant society filled with the sense of ‘self’ and freeing the society of untouchability, addiction and superstitions.”

On Mahavir, it said, “Lord Mahavir was a trailblazer in the fight to eradicate gender discrimination in society by honouring and recognising the contributions that women make to society and restoring their lost dignity.”

The statement on Shivaji underlined his inclusive governance. “Many incidents testifying traits such as faith and confidence in his mission and God during adverse times, respect for parents and teachers, standing shoulder to shoulder with compatriots in their moments of joy and despair, and taking along all sections of society, can be found in his life,” it said.