India: maximise the gains for BJP by involving VHP and Bajrang Dal | Sangh banking on religious polarisation to fetch the BJP political dividends in UP

Sangh Parivar starts oiling poll machine
TNN | Aug 2, 2013, 04.50 AM IST
NEW DELHI: A meeting of top BJP and RSS leaders on Thursday discussed coordination between Sangh Parivar outfits and likely poll issues in a bid to increase synergies ahead of forthcoming assembly and Lok Sabha polls with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi outlining the importance of reaching out to all saffron sympathisers.

Modi stressed short time lines ahead of the Lok Sabha election and told the meeting about the importance of social media and all manner of interest groups that can be aligned with BJP and can be tapped for their unhappiness with the current government at the Centre.

As head of BJP's campaign committee and the party's likely prime ministerial nominee, Modi chose to cover the nitty-gritty of election management in detail at the fairly lengthy discussion.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh said the meeting did not discuss any leadership issues such as formalizing the candidature of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as the saffron prime ministerial nominee.

"These meetings aimed at improving coordination are held every three four months. Today we discussed economic, social and security issues. The issue of PM candidate was not discussed," Singh said.

The meeting was attended by Modi, leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley while RSS leaders present included general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi, joint general secretary Suresh Soni, besides Dattatray Hosbole and Krishan Gopal.

Discussions focused on maximizing the gains of involving all Sangh organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal that have sometimes been not just adrift but at loggerheads with BJP. The intent was to ensure a high degree of coordination and reduction of personality clashes with the saffron family.

The coordination will become more crucial as BJP seeks to fine tune its poll message nearer to elections when its stress on "development" issues might be at cross purposes with the deeper Hindutva hues of VHP and Bajrang Dal.

A level of coordination will allow saffron outfits to work their constituencies with the overall objective of ensuring a BJP victory in the Lok Sabha election. Modi's expected projection can help the process as he is seen to enjoy the support of VHP veterans like Ashok Singhal although other leaders like Praveen Togadia do not share a rapport with the Gujarat CM.
FULL TEXT AT: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sangh-Parivar-starts-oiling-poll-machine/articleshow/21543087.cms

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The Hindu, August 2, 2013

Singhal’s agenda for Modi: stop ‘de-Hinduisation’
Prashant Jha

Chief patron Ashok Singhal says Sangh Parivar is "confident Modi will correct de-Hinduisation"

At a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi is seeking to straddle different constituencies, a top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader has laid out for Mr. Modi the agenda of correcting ‘de-Hinduisation’. The Sangh Parivar will also embark on an agitation on the Ram Temple issue, a move that could polarise the electorate in the Hindi heartland.

Ashok Singhal, chief patron of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an RSS offshoot, told The Hindu that Mr. Modi was a “divine creation,” when asked if there was any conflict between the emphasis on the organisation, sangathan in RSS doctrine, and the personality cult developing around the Gujarat Chief Minister. “Modi rose after Ram bhaktas were burnt down and the developments in the 72 hours that followed. He is the gift of Lord Ram. The media, Sonia Gandhi, western powers have all attacked him. But he is invincible.”

Mr. Singhal dismissed the criticism that Mr. Modi’s inaction in those 72 hours led to the loss of lives. “It was natural Hindu upsurge across Gujarat. No one could stop it, like no one could stop the Kedarnath tragedy.”

The VHP chief patron said the RSS and the VHP were “confident that Modi will stop the process of de-Hinduisation that is taking place, and address unheard issues.” He then offered the clearest indication yet of what the Sangh Parivar expected from the Chief Minister in return for organisational and cadre support.

Parliament, he said, must pass a resolution for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The government had said in an affidavit that if it was proved that Hindu structure existed at the site, the Hindus would win. The courts have now accepted our claim.” The Sangh is banking on religious polarisation to fetch the BJP handsome political dividends in Uttar Pradesh.

With that in mind, the VHP will launch an agitation from August 25 in six districts of U.P. — Barabanki, Bahraich, Gonda, Basti, Ambedkar Nagar, and Faizabad — to tell the Muslims that they should not build new structures, especially “Babri replicas,” in the area. A yatra will commence if “Parliament’s monsoon session” does not take up temple issue. Mr. Modi’s confidant and BJP U.P. in-charge Amit Shah recently visited Ayodhya to express support for the issue.

Ganga and cows

The second issue, Mr. Singhal said, was “cleaning up the Ganga.” “Like Ram, Ganga unites us. And there is a systematic conspiracy to destroy the river by building dams and tunnels. The Uttarakhand tragedy was God’s angry message. The river should be allowed to flow as it is.”

Banning “cow-slaughter” is next on the VHP’s agenda for not only religious but also “development and nutritional purposes.” Mr Singhal added that three other immediate concerns for them were making temples autonomous, religious education compulsory, and implementing a Uniform Civil Code.

Asked if this would lead to tensions, Mr. Singhal said, “The tension happens because some try to create a separate identity, separate nationality, and grab territory. Muslims must learn to respect their Hindu civilisational history. We want good relations with them, but their Jehadi leadership must be defeated.”

‘Development and religion go together’

At a time when commentators have sought to highlight either Mr. Modi’s development avatar or his Hindutva leanings, the Sangh veteran said the two could not be separated. According to him, Mr. Modi’s name had “spread” because people had realised that the “country could not be run on secularism.”

“Modi has protected religion, culture, and values and developed his State on the basis of that. Development and religion go together. Hindus got India freedom, and only the Hindu force can develop India into the number one country,” said Mr. Singhal.

Asked whether there was a contradiction between Mr. Modi’s proximity to big corporate groups and foreign capital, and the RSS’ emphasis on Swadeshi economics, Mr. Singhal replied he believed in Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s “integral humanism.” “The BJP has ignored it but now is the time to emphasise it. It means taking together industry, capitalists, farmers and others.”