IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

IPA Special

IPA Special

BJP and RSS Have Got Hold Of A Guru To Act As Hindutva Icon In Bihar

By Arun Srivastava

As if the ruthless drubbing which RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s politics of Hindutva met at the hands of the Hindus in Karnataka assembly elections, Modi and RSS are moving to implement  the Hindutva campaign  in Bihar for getting better results in the coming Lok Sabha polls through a Guru.

This time RSS and Modi have entrusted this task to 26 year old Dhirendra Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba, the self-styled peethadhish of the Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, a religious pilgrimage site in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, the state administration of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had helped him build his religious aura. The message was spread that he can predict future. He even grasps the problem of a person even without seeing him. It is also said that the self-styled godman can write people’s problem on a piece of paper without asking the affected person.

With his biodata full with such miracles and gains, he has descended in Bihar. Obviously these are sufficient to attract and win the attention of the people of the state. It is said that only two days back around 10 lakh worshippers had descended at his place. Unable to cope with the swelling crowd the organisers, who belonged to BJP, had to cancel the programme. The entire RSS and BJP political eco system has rallied behind him to accomplish the task entrusted to them; project Bageshwar as the new messiah of Hindutva.

Name any BJP leaders, either a senior state leader or a union minister, they would be found present at his place rendering their services and obeisance to Baba. The party has booked a luxury hotel for him in the heart of Patna town, which is always teeming with the BJP leaders. BJP leaders Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, state chief Samrat Chaudhary, and senior leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, Sanjay Jaiswal and many others have been putting their efforts to make success of Shastri’s event held from May 13 to 17 at Naubatpur locality in Patna. The BJP leaders are hoping that his events will help promote the Hindutva agenda in Bihar. The BJP leaders are quite confident that the new Hindutva mascot in the form of Bageshwar will ensure BJP and RSS arousing the Hindu emotion just ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Shastri is more emphatic than RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in asserting that India will soon turn into Hindu Rashtra. Even Bhagwat dithers and is not so emphatic in coming out with this declaration. Shastri, on the first day of his spiritual discourse advocated for India as a Hindu nation. He said: “One day a saint told me that I am advocating for the Hindu nation, how is it possible? I replied to him that India is already a Hindu nation and its announcement will be made soon.” No doubt while this statement created a massive controversy as leaders of different political parties on Sunday reacted sharply to his statement, the BJP leaders were ebullient as someone from outside their rank, a revered religious priest, has come out with this assertion.

Shastri has been in Patna for more than 10 days and he would be in the till at least January 2024. The task for him is quite arduous. He has to perform tight rope walking, enthuse the Hindus of Bihar, which Modi could not accomplish in Karnataka. To make him identify with the poor and landless labourers of the state, BJP eco system is working overtime to spread the message across that Shastri had spent his child amid poverty. His entire family used to live in mud house. Dhirendra completed his primary education from the government school in village. His father brought up the family with his earning as a priest. Obviously this is enough for the people of rural Bihar to nurse soft corner in their hearts for him.

Shastri would be coming to Patna was announced some time back. But he will camp here till next January has come as a surprise for many, especially for the anti-BJP forces and parties. This came public only after BJP met with waterloo in Karnataka. Mritunjay Tiwari, the national spokesperson of RJD said; “We have an apprehension about Dhirendra Shastri visiting Patna that he would talk about discrimination in the society on the basis of religion and our apprehension has proved to be right. He has come to Patna to run the political agenda of the BJP and RSS”.

Almost all the right-wing Hindu organisations who have been functioning from the orbit of the RSS have become proactive. The upper caste people, particularly the Bhumihars, have taken the lead. Of late the areas of central Bihar—Patna, Bhojpur, Gaya, Aurangabad—have been at his target. These areas have witnessed fierce class struggle, landlords and feudal led by private militia Ranbir Sena on one hand and landless labourers, harijans and SC on the other from late sixties to eighties.

Taking a leaf out of Netaji’s appeal “ give me blood, I will give you freedom”, the Baba had told his Hindu followers in Madhya Pradesh on the 126 birth anniversary of Netaji ; “Tum mera saath do, main tumhe Hindu Rashtra doonga, (Give me your support, I will give you a Hindu nation)”. Word is being spread; “supporting Baba is supporting Hindu Rashtra”. It is alleged that the BJP political eco system shifted him to Bihar after he was challenged to show his miracle by a Maharashtra based organisation, Andh Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Committee for abolition of blind faith) which dubbed him a fraud for promoting superstitions and challenged him to join their satsang (religious program).

On January 20, Shastri had vowed that as long as he is alive, he would strive for the “Ghar Wapsi” of converted Hindus. “Ghar Wapsi” is a misnomer used by the Hindu right to create a narrative in which they claim that Muslims and Christians living in India were originally Hindus and as such need to return (wapsi) to their home (ghar) religion of Hinduism.

But the going for Shastri in Bihar does not appear to be too smooth either. Already a number of secular and left forces have started voicing their protest. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reacted strongly to his contentious comment of making India a “Hindu nation”, saying these comments had no value as they were made by those who had no knowledge of the country’s freedom struggle or the Constitution. Those talking about such things (Hindu nation) were not born when the country became independent and the Constitution was implemented.”

He even said; “We have seven communities in the country – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists and Jains and people of these communities have equal rights as per the constitution. The number of Parsis in the country is small, they mainly live in the Mumbai region but they have equal rights and we respect it. We always ensure that no one would feel any inconvenience in any community in Bihar. It is not allowed to say anything beyond the Constitution. If anyone wants to amend the Constitution, it needs two-third majority in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Amendment happened only with the decision of all parties”.

The only senior BJP leader who does not share the views of Shastri is the union minister R K Singh. At a function in his home town Ara while expressing ignorance about Shastri he said; “Who is Baba Bageshwar? I have no knowledge about him. I don’t know any Bageshwar Baba.” Obviously it implied that a section of the BJP leaders is not pleased with the strategy of the party to promote Hindutva agenda in Bihar through Bageshwar Baba..

Shastri’s comment that turning India a Hindu Rashtra will finish the menace of ‘love jihad’ for ever. He remarked “Conversion, love jihad and brain washing will stop the day India becomes a Hindu rashtra”. He said; Hindustan means ‘Hinduon ka Sthaan’ (place for Hindus). We want Hindu Rashtra based on Sanatan Dharma. If they declare Hindu Rashtra, we will follow up with the demand for Akhand Bharat.” (IPA Service)

 

Politics

DMK to coordinate opposition unity efforts: Stalin

June 1, 2023
Politics

Modi blasts Cong for misleading poor, ‘guarantee habit’

June 1, 2023
Happening Now

Gehlot adds free power to pre-poll promises

June 1, 2023
Politics

Rahul holds session with Silicon Valley AI experts, entrepreneurs

June 1, 2023
Happening Now

Farmers call Khap Mahapanchayat for wrestlers

June 1, 2023
IPA Special

US Govt Putting Pressure On India To Join NATO+ As A Part Of Asia-Pacific Strategy

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Political Outcome From Communal Cauldron May Not Favour BJP

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

No Real Truce Is Ready At Ending Gehlot-Pilot Infighting In Rajasthan Congress

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Slowdown In Containerized Exports Poses Setback To Pro-Export Agenda

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Sons Of First Joint Climbers Of Mount Everest Are Carrying The Legacy Of Their Fathers

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Shiites And Not Jews Emerge As Touchstone Of Saudi Moderation

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Kerala Govt To Move SC Against Centre’s Cut In Net Borrowings Ceiling

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

G7 Conclave Fails To Meet Commitment For Nuclear Weapons Abolition

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

Defection Of Lone Congress MLA In Bengal To TMC Angers Alliance Partner CPI(M)

May 31, 2023
Politics

Gehlot, Pilot patch-up success increasingly in doubt

May 31, 2023
Happening Now

World body condemns action against Indian wrestlers

May 31, 2023
Politics

Yechury appeals to Cong to supports AAP on ordinance

May 31, 2023
Politics

Mamata says Shah trip prompted by her own visit plan

May 31, 2023
Happening Now

Owaisi dares Centre to strike on China instead of Telangana

May 31, 2023
IPA Special

NITI Aayog Has Failed To Play Any Effective Role In Planning For Indian Economy

May 30, 2023

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

US Govt Putting Pressure On India To Join NATO+ As A Part Of Asia-Pacific Strategy

May 31, 2023 3:56 pm | IPA Staff

By Arun Srivastava Narendra Modi’s yearning to be acknowledged as the world leader (Vishwa Guru) has landed India in a unpleasant quagmire endangering its identity...

IPA Special

Political Outcome From Communal Cauldron May Not Favour BJP

May 31, 2023 3:55 pm | IPA Staff

By Dr. Gyan Pathak BJP has broken its legs in Karnataka   assembly polls when it fell into the pitfalls of majority politics. The party, including...

IPA Special

No Real Truce Is Ready At Ending Gehlot-Pilot Infighting In Rajasthan Congress

May 31, 2023 3:09 pm | IPA Staff

By Sushil Kutty The latest Sachin Pilot-Ashok Gehlot patch-up will last till June 8 when disqualified Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi returns from his...

IPA Special

Slowdown In Containerized Exports Poses Setback To Pro-Export Agenda

May 31, 2023 1:44 pm | IPA Staff

By K Raveendran There is a marked slowdown in the containerized exports from India, attributed mainly to a decline in consumer demand for Indian goods...

IPA Special

US Govt Putting Pressure On India To Join NATO+ As A Part Of Asia-Pacific Strategy

in IPA Special
May 31, 2023   ·  

Political Outcome From Communal Cauldron May Not Favour BJP

in IPA Special
May 31, 2023   ·  

No Real Truce Is Ready At Ending Gehlot-Pilot Infighting In Rajasthan Congress

in IPA Special
May 31, 2023   ·  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow us on
Up Next: Disqualification case delay weighing on M’rashtra Speaker
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved.
Newspack by India Press Agency | Statement of Ownership | Contact Us
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets