The spat between Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is no more confined to assertion of supremacy by both the leaders, instead it has taken an ugly turn with Modi bhakts and supporters launching a campaign for Bhagwat’s ouster from the post of RSS chief. The major accusation that is making round saffron ecosystem is, he has been reversing his own statement made on some earlier occasion; he is gradually trying to become secular these days; his statements are not in conformity to the RSS’s philosophical preachings.
The most damaging allegation that is being spread is, Bhagwat has lost control on the organisation and other frontal organisations including BJP. Organisations like Bajrang Dal and Hindu outfits are listening to his dictates. Some time back he had advised not to anymore rake the issue of Hindu mandirs beneath the mosques, but it is still continuing. Some Hindu organisations and individuals claiming to represent the saffron ideology are indulging in this game. Obviously this development underlines that Bhagwat’s writ no more runs. True enough ,his suggestion avoid the chaos once we start searching for our temples’’ is being interpreted as his turning soft and secular.
Bhagwat’s inability to have the person of his choice as the national president of the BJP within the stipulated time frame, December 31, is also being cited as his losing the fight against Modi. After the date for election of the new incumbent expired, the BJP leadership gave the impression that under any circumstances the party would have the new president by January 31. This time frame is also reaching end, but so far no sign of change is noticed.
Nevertheless BJP sources confide that the leadership was simply testing the perseverance of RSS leadership, especially of Bhagwat. Meanwhile in a shocking development , Modi supporters and even some so-called neutral BJP leaders have made it clear to RSS chief that they were not in hurry to hold the election of the national president in near future and it may be delayed for couple of months more. The reason being cited is, Modi and Amit Shah are busy sorting out organisational problems and cope with the challenges emanating from the recent decisions of the US President Donald Trump.
Strategically Modi too has been maintaining distance from Bhagwat and also contradicting his observations. The latest has been Modi negating Bhagwat’s statement on India’s Independence. Barely ten days back Bhagwat at a function in Indore had observed: “After India got political independence from the British on August 15, 1947, a written Constitution was drafted… But the document was not followed according to the spirit of the vision at that time… The true independence of India, which had faced many centuries of persecution, was achieved on that day (the day of the consecration of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya)”.
After a week of his remark, Modi in a very shuttle manner contradicted him. He said: “This Dwadashi (an auspicious day in the lunar calendar) of Pran Pratishtha (Ram Temple consecration) is the Dwadashi of the re-establishment of the cultural consciousness of India.” Two views, one related to Independence and other of cultural consciousness, are quite different in character and contour. Modi tried to correlate it with the Hindu culture and identify with the Hindu aspiration and tenet.
Bhagwat and Modi had nursed the view that the consecration would yield political dividends and help BJP to reach its avowed target of winning 400 seats, but did not happen. The results of the Lok Sabha sent a clear message that people had rejected their approach. BJP even lost Faizabad Lok Sabha seat under which Ayodhya falls.
This feud for supremacy has been causing immense damage to the saffron ecosystem. The cadres and the leaders are completely confused of their future moves and the strategy the RSS and BJP are going to adopt for taking forward the task of Hindutva. Though the new face of ultra Hindutva, UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath is desperate to make it a big issue, but unfortunately for him this has made no significant impact even in UP. With split loyalty the members of the saffron family are virtually moving to a bind.
Nevertheless a section of senior BJP leaders close to Bhagwat feel that Modi has actually not been able to comprehend the implication of Bhagwat’s statement on Independence. They point out that Bhagwat had tried to dilute the impact of Rahul Gandhi’s thrust on Constitution and his allegation that RSS and B JP are out to finish the present Constitution written by Ambedkar and replace it by Manusmriti. The RSS leaders argue Bhagwat actually deflates Rahul’s claim Congress is the true preserver of Constitution and protector of the interest of the Dalits and oppressed.
A recent inside mood assessment of saffron ecosystem had revealed a shift in the stance of the Dalits towards Congress. This has created panic in the saffron family and they want to put a check. It is said that any direct attack on Constitution would be counterproductive, which is why Bhagwat targeted Independence. Yet another aspect of this observation has been to counter Congress’s line of attack against the RSS of having no role in the freedom struggle.
Modi supporters are also projecting Bhagwat as a weak (Sarsanghchalak) chief. He is not more than a figurehead. It is also said that Bhagwat is not comfortable with Modi and has been scared of his style of functioning. It is a fact that during his eleven year rule, Modi has established himself as the most powerful leader. His bhakts argue that Modi has highest order of political skill; if he can sideline a veteran and patriarch like L K Advani, his cornering Bhagwat does not require too much of brain storming. Since Bhagwat is the chief of RSS, Modi is moving slow. (IPA Service)