India: 'RSS a beneficiary of Modi rule' (Kavita Upadhyay)

The Hindu,
Nainital, July 24, 2015

'RSS a beneficiary of Modi rule'
by Kavita Upadhyay

political parties
‘The political climate is good for the expansion of the organisation’

The political environment under the present government is conducive to the growth and expansion of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, say its leaders.

The plans for the expansion of the RSS were discussed at a three-day organisational meet, which concluded here on Friday. The meet was attended by RSS leaders including Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.

“The previous government used to deliberately create obstacles [in Sangh’s works] at least now we won’t have to face any obstacles,” Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya said during the meet.

Accepting that the RSS played a crucial part in bringing Narendra Modi to power, Dr. Vaidya said the RSS was also a beneficiary of the Modi rule. “Lots of factors resulted in Modi’s victory and it includes contribution of the RSS,” Dr Vaidya said.

Youth of the country have been inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coming to power and that has increased admiration for RSS, Dr Vaidya said while speaking to the media during a three-day organisational meet of the RSS being held at the Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar school, about 20 kilometres from Nainital.

Dalit membership in RSS increasing

The Dalit membership in the RSS was increasing. “This work [on increasing Dalit membership] in the RSS increased in 2006 when leaders of all castes were brought together [under the RSS banner]. However, we will work more [towards uniting the Dalits with the Hindus] to unite the society,” Dr Vaidya said.

On being questioned Dr Vaidya did not specify the plans under which the RSS plans further expansion. “We’ve penetrated the Tehsil levels across the country to 86 percent,” he said adding that the RSS would continue efforts for further expansion.

Speaking on RSS affiliates including the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, whose members have been voicing their dissent over the Modi government’s moves on labour reform, Dr Vaidya said the BMS had the right to voice their dissent.

Organiser is not Sangh’s mouthpiece

Recently, speaking to the media during the Nainital meet on an article that had appeared in the Organiser which stated that the IITs and the IIMs were being used for anti-India and anti-Hindu activities, Dr Vaidya said that the Organiser was not a mouthpiece of the RSS.

“The Organiser is not a mouthpiece of the RSS. It is run by a trust,” Dr Vaidya said adding that the article was “just a contribution by an individual” and it did not portray the editorial stance of the Organiser.