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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several...

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several questions. While replying to one of the questions, he remarked, “If Swatantraveer Savarkar is given the Bharat Ratna, the prestige of the Bharat Ratna itself will increase.” He was asked, why there has been a delay in conferring the Bharat Ratna on Savarkar, in reply to which, Bhagwat said, “I am not part of that committee. But if I meet someone, I will ask. Even without that honour, he rules the hearts of millions of people.” he added. Social Divisions Bhagwat replied to questions that were clubbed in 14 different groups ranging from national security to environment, social harmony, youth, arts and sports. Whenever the questions suggested or expressed expectations that the RSS should do certain things, Bhagwat stressed on the involvement of the society and initiative from the society in resolving the problems. While addressing the critical issue of Uniform Civil Code, Bhagwat stated that the UCC should be framed by taking everyone into confidence and must not lead to social divisions. In the same way while replying to the question related to illegal migrants in the country, Bhagwat urged people to “detect and report” the “illegal infiltrators” to the police. He also urged people not to give them any employment and to be more “vigilant.” Backing SIR He highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has already revealed the “foreigners” living in the country. “The government has a lot to do regarding infiltration. They have to detect and deport. This wasn’t happening until now, but it has started little by little, and it will gradually increase. When the census or the SIR is conducted, many people come to light who are not citizens of this country; they are automatically excluded from the process,” he said. “But we can do one thing: we can work on detection. Their language gives them away. We should detect them and report them to the appropriate authorities. We should inform the police that we suspect these people are foreigners, and they should investigate and keep an eye on them, and we will also keep an eye on them. We will not give employment to any foreigner. If someone is from our country, we will give them employment, but not to foreigners. You should be a little more vigilant and aware,” he added. SC Chief Emphasising the inclusivity of the Sangh, he said that anyone can become ‘Sarsanghchalak’ (RSS chief), including the SC and STs, as the decision is solely dependent on the work that any individual put for the organisation. “Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra or Brahmin does not qualify for the Sarsanghchalak position (RSS Chief), a Hindu will become the one who works and is best available. A Hindu will become, and that can also be an SC or ST. Anyone can become it depends on the work. Today, if you see, all classes have representation in the Sangh. The decision is taken on the basis of one who works and is best available,” he said. He pointed out that when the RSS was founded, its work began in a Brahmin-dominated community and hence, most of its founders were Brahmins, which led to the organisation being labelled as a Brahmin outfit at the time. People always look for an organisation that has representatives from their community, he said. “If I were to choose a chief, I would go by the ‘best available candidate’ criterion. When I was appointed RSS chief, there were many best candidates, but they were not available. I was the one who could be relieved from duties and appointed,” he said. He said that to belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities is not a disqualification, and neither is being a Brahmin a qualification to become the RSS chief. Ready to step down if Sangh asks for Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh had asked him to continue working despite his age, while stressing that he would step down from the post whenever the organisation directs him to do so. “There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief. Generally, it is said that after turning 75, one should work without holding any post,” Bhagwat said. “I have completed 75 years and informed the RSS, but the organisation asked me to continue working. Whenever the RSS asks me to step down, I will do so, but retirement from work will never happen,” he said.

Maharashtra Elections: The Satta Bazaar Dilemma!

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Maharashtra Elections

For the first time, Satta Bazaar or the Bookies Market are confused and at a loss, unable to predict which party or candidate will win the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. Mohan (name changed) one of the regulars in the circuit, shares some titbits circulating through the grapevine about how, for the very first time in many years, the entire Satta Bazaar is struggling to come up with reliable numbers on who will win or lose these upcoming elections. The reasons he says are not one but multiple. The first is the lack of trust and clarity on the seat-sharing formula amongst both the ruling Maha Yuti and the opposition Maha Vikash Aghadi coalition. The second reason is the possible coming together of multiple fronts that may include Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), Raju Shetty’s Swabhimaani Paksha, Sambhaji Raje Bhonsale’s Swarajya Sanghatana, and Bachhu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party, as well as the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and not to mention the many candidates who may contest as Independents in case they fail to get a ticket. Adding to this complex mix is the possible entry of the Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who may decide to take a political plunge and contest the elections, potentially changing the entire equation.

“This is nothing less than a political circus of sorts,“ says Mohan, noting that he and his associates have analysed that while the smaller parties may come together to form a possible third and fourth front, it cannot be ruled out that most parties may prefer to go solo at the last minute, contesting all 288 seats. The victory numbers according to the ‘market’ is the MNS, which is expected to contest 250 seats and might win at least 5-6 seats of them. And the combination of VBA along with others may fetch them at least 55 seats. Similarly, AIMIM, which may contest 50 seats, stands to win at least in five prominent Muslim-dominated areas of Maharashtra, while the possible number of victorious Independents may exceed 20.

The third area that the bookies have reportedly been monitoring, he claims, is the shortage of strong candidates. Aside from ageing veterans, not a single political party has a strong and capable second or third line of leadership ready to contest these elections confidently. Instead, we see a large number of family members of established leaders―many who lack substantial political experience and understanding of grassroots politics as well. Additionally, you have contractors-cum-real-estate agents turned wannabe politicians who lack vision and are jumping on the election bandwagon, hoping to pay their way through to become the next big thing in Maharashtra.

“No one has any idea who to bet on or who will form the next government in Maharashtra. There are no good candidates this time around. Voters are tired. We think the voter turnout may be less this time, and if that happens, you can expect candidates whom you have never even heard of getting elected on a smaller number of votes, and that is quite worrying for everyone,” he says. Well, let’s wait and watch for sure!

(The writer is a journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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