India: BJP, RSS, ABVP, VHP cadres campaigning for modi in Varanasi

30,000 saffron soldiers take up Modi's fight in Varanasi
Darpan Singh, Hindustan Times Varanasi, April 15, 2014

About 10,000 members of the BJP's ideological parent, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and 20,000 from its affiliates such as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, Durga Wahini and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) are pulling out all stops to ensure the victory of Narendra Modi in Varanasi.

These 30,000 cadres are locals. Apart from them, thousands more are flocking to the Hindu holy city from other states. Neither the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor RSS have agreed to quantify the force, saying they are non-political and trying "only to awaken" the 1.6 million voters here.

Sanjay Bhardwaj, BJP's east UP media-in-charge, said, "About 7,000 people have come to Varanasi from other states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi. On Monday night itself, 150 people came from Haryana. These are mostly pure Modi supporters, without Sangh background. The rush will increase once Modi files his papers and does a road show on April 22."

Ram Kumar, who has left his daily-wage job at a Gujarat factory and have come to Varanasi, told HT, "I'm here for the big May 16 (when poll results are announced) celebration."

A large number of people, quite a few of them Gujarati, celebrated Hanuman Jayanti in Varanasi on Tuesday.

"In the run-up to the polling on May 12, about 30,000 Gujaratis are expected here," said Bhardwaj.

Senior RSS pracharak Nagendra Dwivedi said, "There are 300 RSS shakhas in Varanasi with 10,000 members. Plus there are 20,000 members of VHP, Bajrang Dal, Durga Wahini, ABVP and Bharat Vikas Parishad. So effectively, there are 30,000 people who are working every day to awaken the voters.

ABVP's national executive member Ghanshyam Shahi said, "We're informing voters about issues such as uniform civil code, article 370 (special status to Kashmir) and Ram Mandir."
The VHP's job is to use thousands of temples and many akharas in Varanasi to mobilise support and bring here sadhus-sants from other states.

A former BJP minister, currently in Varanasi, admitted, "Top RSS leadership is coordinating Modi's campaign. There is an apprehension that the city will not be able to take in the rush."

The disciples of yoga guru Ramdev are in town under the banner of Bharat Swabhiman Nyas. Ramdev will himself camp here from May 2 to May 4.

The BJP is also trying its best to whip up the Hindutva sentiment. It has planned a 'Ganga Pranam Yatra' which will have around 100 boats with Modi cut-outs atop them travelling from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/elections2014/election-beat/30-000-saffron-soldiers-take-up-modi-s-fight/article1-1208500.aspx