Amid the Lok Sabha elections, BJP president JP Nadda made a statement that the RSS is a cultural and social organisation and the BJP is a political organisation. The party has grown stronger and they don’t need any support from the RSS. Any way the BJP had an anti-incumbency challenge, their hate mongering and destruction in the name of development had not gone well with the voters. Manipur was another burning issue where Modi maintained stillness. This is the reason the BJP fell short of a majority in the Lok Sabha polls but formed the government with its allies for a record third term and Modi Sarkar became NDA Sarkar once again.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his recent speech, picked up all the points and roasted the BJP. In his first public remarks on the outcome of the elections, Mohan Bhagwat said one who serves the people does not have “ahankar” (arrogance) and works without causing any hurt to others. Referring to the bitter poll campaign, he said “decorum was not maintained.” He said that during the recently held Lok Sabha elections, political parties did not maintain decorum. The real public servant is the one who does not show arrogance and maintains decorum while working in public life. He said the elections are over, the results have been declared and the government has also been formed but the discussion about it is still going on. He said, this is an event that happens in our democratic country every five years. The voters have given their opinion and now work is being done accordingly.
The people of the Sangh do not get involved in such things. We keep doing our duty. Tathagata has also said that Kusalasya Upasampada. One should not starve the body but earn a living skillfully. This should not hurt others. This is the decorum inherent in. We work with this kind of decorum. The person working keeps decorum in mind. One who follows decorum does not have arrogance and only he deserves to be called a servant. Bhagwat said that there is competition in elections, so it is important to keep someone behind. But there is decorum in this too. Lies should not be used. Elections are held to sit in Parliament, form a consensus, and run. Even if our minds are different, we have to move together.
Everyone’s mind cannot be the same, so the majority is used. There are two sides to the coin, which is why there is a system of ruling parties and opposition in Parliament. Bhagwat said, decorum was not followed during the campaign. It was also not thought that this could create discord in society. The Sangh was also dragged into this without any reason. Lies were spread with the help of technology. Is this the use of knowledge and science? Bhagwat said the government was formed. The same government came back again. A lot of good things happened in 10 years. The economic situation in our country has improved. The strategic situation is better than before. Its reputation has increased worldwide. We have all progressed in the fields of arts and sports. This does not mean that we are free from challenges. Now we have to think about the future by freeing ourselves from anger.
Regarding Manipur, Mohan Bhagwat said that there is a need for peace in the country. Manipur has been waiting for peace for a year. Before that, it was completely peaceful for 10 years. But then it seemed that the old public culture had ended. The conflict that suddenly arose or was created there is still going on. Who will pay attention to it? It should be considered by giving priority. Bhagwat also underlined the importance of building consensus. He also reiterated the Sangh’s concern over continuing violence in Manipur and asked who was going to pay attention to the problem on the ground. He said it had to be dealt with on priority.
The words of the head of the RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, assume significance as the party, despite an aggressive poll campaign, fell far short of the ambitious ‘400 paar’ call for the NDA. The party even failed to get to the majority mark of 272—it won 240 of 543 Lok Sabha seats—as an energised INDIA bloc prevented a Modi wave. The BJP relied on NDA allies, including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu and JD (U)’s Nitish Kumar, to form a coalition government at the Centre.
He also stressed the need for consensus between the government and the opposition, saying that even if they have differences, they should come together and work for the masses. On the opposition, Bhagwat said, “I do not call it Virodhi Paksh, I call it Pratipaksh. Pratipaksh virodhi nahi hai (The opposition is not an opponent). It is revealing a side and that must be deliberated upon. If we understand that this is how we must operate, then we must be cognizant of the decorum required in contesting elections. That decorum was not maintained.”
According to Bhagwat, there will never be 100% alignment of thoughts and ideas. “But when society decides that we have to walk together despite our differences, then a consensus is built. Parliament has two sides so both sides can be heard. Every coin has two sides. If one side brings an idea, then the other side has to reveal the other perspective,” he said, adding, “We have to free ourselves of the rhetorical excesses of the polls and think about the future.”
Rajya Sabha elections are ahead, let’s see how the BJP deals with their future campaigns. Right now, the biggest challenge for the party is to sustain the alliance and stay in power.
