Mohan Bhagwat In For A Solid Grilling In RSS’ Palakkad Meet

RSS leaders close to its chief Mohan Bhagwat are seeking to suppress news of a ‘rift’ between RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his “true sevak” remark. But events taking place inside the RSS do not validate the message that everything is ethical and politically correct.

Some senior RSS functionaries have expressed their disgust and frustration at attempts being made to dilute Bhagwat’s criticism of the BJP and deny it as a move to censor Modi. This after senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar lambasted Modi only to take a U-turn from his “result of arrogance” remark following the BJP’s inability to get a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Indresh Kumar succumbed to pressure from the RSS leaders who are perceived to be close to Bhagwat. The message being sent is that the RSS leaders close to Bhagwat are calling the shots in the RSS.

Critics say RSS’s reputation has been on the wane ever since Modi became Prime Minister, its image hit hard, and will lose relevance and credibility if RSS leaders continue to provide cover to Modi. Attempts to shield Modi will hasten the implosion and further erode the authority and reliability of the RSS. Projecting Modi as taller than RSS will harm the organisation. Hindus will lose their trust in the RSS.

By publicly denying that Bhagwat targeted Modi, they were simply encouraging him to resurrect his politics of torture and oppression. In fact, the NDA government of Modi has already initiated another bout of repressive measures. On June 14, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena granted sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and Kashmir-based academic Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the draconian UAPA for remarks they made at a seminar in New Delhi in 2010.

Saxena’s action is vulnerable to legal scrutiny. The FIR was registered on November 27, 2010 at Tilak Marg Police Station as per the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, following a complaint by a Kashmiri Pandit from Kashmir, alleging that Roy and Hussain delivered provocative speeches at a conference organised by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners under the banner of ‘Azadi—the Only Way’ on October 21, 2010.

Saxena did not bother to check that under Section 468 of the CrPC no court shall take cognisance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the statute of limitation. The allegations are yet to be investigated and brought to their logical culmination by the Delhi Police. Two other accused, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani are no more and it is not clear what evidence the Delhi Police has against Roy and Hussain.

The Supreme Court has held that the grant of sanction should reflect proper application of mind. In CBI vs Ashok Kumar Aggarwal, (2013), the Supreme Court held on the validity of sanction, “The prosecution has to satisfy the court that at the time of sending the matter for grant of sanction by the competent authority, adequate material for such grant was made available to the said authority. This may also be evident from the sanction order, in case it is extremely comprehensive, as all the facts and circumstances of the case may be spelt out in the sanction order.”

Yet another example of investigating agencies becoming active against Modi’s critics has come from Bihar. Two days ago a criminal case was filed against the newly elected independent MP, Pappu Yadav after RJD chief Lalu Yadav refused to acknowledge him as an INDIA bloc candidate notwithstanding the fact that he had joined the Congress. A furniture businessman lodged an extortion complaint against Pappu Yadav and his associate in Purnia on June 10 for demanding Rs 1 crore on June 4.

Pappu Yadav alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to kill him during the election. “I was supposed to be provided Y-category security by the district administration, but this has not happened,” said Yadav. Sources maintain the furniture businessman is a BJP sympathiser. Yadav claimed the plan to implicate him was made in Patna by a big political leader of Bihar, two businessmen and a former MLA from Purnia, and one businessman from Madhepura.

Yet another case of coercion involves the use of the CBI. With Chief Minister Nitish Kumar turning hostile after being denied the railway ministry and a cabinet rank office to his partymen, Modi wants to show Nitish his place in the scheme of things. On Friday, the CBI descended on the Muzaffarpur Shelter Home to re-investigate the cases of rape of 34 inmates. The shelter home was run by JD(U) leader Brajesh Thakur under an NGO “Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti”. Thakur is the main accused along with 18 other persons who are serving life terms. What made CBI order a reinvestigation? It was exposed earlier that girls were supplied to top politicians, police officials and bureaucrats. It is alleged that most of the persons involved in the sex scam are members of the JD(U).

Prime Minister Modi is determined to push his autocratic style of functioning. Modi’s Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal has said that the new criminal laws will be introduced from July 1.The three criminal laws were adopted without participation of the opposition in the debate in the session before the Lok Sabha elections were held. The Modi government had replaced IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act.

Meghwal claimed “all were consulted” but he confessed that only 142, including members from both houses, responded. “Suggestions were also requested from all MLAs nationwide, with only 270 responding. We consulted widely, but not everyone provided feedback,” Meghwal said, adding that though suggestions were sought from all states, only 18 states and six Union Territories responded. This implies that the three laws lack ratification and approval.

But the Modi government managed to get it passed in the Lok Sabha when 142 opposition MPs were expelled by then Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Under no circumstances could Prime Minister Modi claim unanimous approval of the Lok Sabha. The haste to get the three laws implemented on July 1 underlines his autocratic attitude. Modi does not any discussion and in any case, this is a new House who may not fall for his manouverings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must not forget that India runs by the rule of law and political adversaries cannot be harassed by the misuse of laws.

The senior RSS leaders also pointed out that by allotting all the important portfolios to his own supporters and loyal leaders, Modi intended to send the message that he continues to be the ultimate boss. He even refused to respect the views and claims of the leaders of allies. Nitish Kumar asked for the railway ministry but was rebuffed and Chandrababu Naidu’s demand for the Speakership of the Lok Sabha still hangs fire. It is for Naidu to decide whether he will toe the diktats of Modi. Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has said INDIA bloc will support Telugu Desam Party if there’s a contest for the speaker’s post.

Raut said if the Speaker’s post goes to the BJP, Modi will “break the parties like the TDP, JD(U) and the outfits of Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary”. And this may happen as soon as in a couple of months. Modi will wait and watch and then strike. Once Modi consolidates his position, he would openly challenge the authority of the RSS. It is important to note that out of the 239 BJP MPs, 103 are the turncoats who switched over to BJP at the invitation of Modi. For them RSS has no relevance. They are loyal to Modi. It is basically with the intention to keep this flock together that Modi refused give Home ministry to Naidu.

RSS leaders are apprehensive of Modi showing his true colours. Once he gets the confidence of the house, he would resort to his old style of operation. In fact, these RSS leaders strongly feel that Bhagwat should be asked to explain his correct position and stand; whether his remarks were really aimed at Narendra Modi, whose coarse Islamophobhia and uncouth canvassing diverted attention from the more ideological issues of the Sangh. Bhagwat should be asked to explain why he preferred to maintain stoic silence during the election campaign.

Bhagwat’s silence over the 10 years of Modi rule has turned the people against the RSS. Now, a section of RSS leaders hope that the three-day annual coordination meeting of the RSS, beginning on August 31, in Palakkad, Kerala, would prove to be a turning point. Senior BJP leaders, including its president, will attend the meeting, the first such exercise after the recent polls. This meeting will define the relation between the BJP and the RSS. It is certain Mohan Bhagwat would have to do a lot of explaining on his stand on Modi and why his “arrogance” remark does not apply to Modi? (IPA Service)