Tag: Sangh Parivar

  • Indresh Kumar, the maverick RSS leader who speaks his mind

    The speculation about differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its mother organisation the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the BJP’s low performance in the Lok Sabha elections is now gaining ground with a top RSS leader offering his unique interpretation of the election results.

    Indresh Kumar, a member of the national executive of the RSS, has said that the BJP was restricted to 240 seats, well below the majority mark, due to its arrogance. Referring to the INDIA bloc of opposition parties, he said, “And those who had no faith in Ram, they together were stopped at 234.” Indresh’s comment comes right after the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said three days ago that a true sevak (the one who serves the people) never shows arrogance and always maintains decorum in public life.

    Also Read: RSS leader Indresh Kumar slams BJP, says ‘those who became arrogant were stopped at 241 by Lord Ram’While these two statements that refer to arrogance will fuel the speculation about a rift between the RSS and the BJP, there is nothing new about the statements because the RSS has always been known for expressing its differences with the BJP.

    On Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister for the third time, Indresh Kumar had said on June 9, “Today, the rarest of the rare is happening. It has become possible which seemed impossible. That’s why I extend my best wishes.”

    Indresh, the maverickWhile a number of RSS leaders often express their independent views, Indresh is particularly known to speak his mind. In 2015, the RSS leadership was annoyed with him for “unauthorisedly” wading into a political row over then foreign minister Sushma Swaraj helping Lalit Modi when the former IPL boss was wanted by law. Swaraj, who was under pressure from opposition to resign after admitting that she helped Lalit Modi, found support from Indresh who defended her and said she had never compromised on nationalism and patriotism.Sources in the RSS had told TOI that Indresh’s statement reflected his personal view, and he should have refrained from articulating it without sanction from the leadership. The RSS sources said the leadership’s annoyance with Indresh was not over the content of what he said, but the fact that he chose to dwell on the matter at all. The remark ran contrary to RSS’s steadfast insistence on being an apolitical organisation which did not interfere with the “routine matters” of the BJP.In 2014, Indresh spoke on the controversy about Gopal Subramanium, a former solicitor-general, withdrawing his consent for a Supreme Court judgeship alleging that the NDA government was engaged in a smear campaign against him. “Do not indulge in character assassination of individuals by using agencies and media” Indresh said.

    In 2017, Indresh stoked a row by saying that Bhagat Singh was a “bigger” follower of non-violence than Mahatma Gandhi, who he claimed could have averted partition of the country. Speaking at a function, he said, “The definition of ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) is very different from what has been told to us. Non-violence does not only mean shunning of violence, but it also means attacking to defend oneself from a demon. Bhagat Singh made the demons (British) realise that they were wrong, and his act of throwing a bomb in assembly was not to kill anyone. But what he suffered afterwards was actually an act of violence at the hands of the British.”

    Indresh’s controversial pastIndresh was linked to the 2007 Ajmer bomb blast case during the UPA government and was probed by investigation agencies. A bomb blast on October 11, 2007 at the dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti at the time of Roza-Iftaar had left three pilgrims dead and 15 injured. The case was handed over to Rajasthan Police ATS and later transferred to the NIA, which re-registered the case on April 6, 2011. He was also questioned by the CBI in connection with the 2007 blast at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.

    In 2017, the NIA submitted a closure report in the case, giving a clean chit to Indresh and other accused including Sadhvi Pragya, saying no prosecutable evidence was found against them.

    After his acquittal, he said the people who coined the word “Hindutva terror“ have committed a “sin“, an “unpardonable act and they have to pay a price for this“. In a conversation with ET, he had said that there had been no case against him and that his name was not in the FIRs lodged.

    The man behind Sangh Parivar’s Muslim outreachIndresh Kumar is the margadarshak (guide) of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, a Muslim organisation supported by the RSS and has been leading the Sangh Parivar’s outreach to the Muslim community. He has said that 99 per cent Muslims in India are “Hindustani” by their ancestry, culture, traditions and motherland. He has also supported the view expressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in the past that Indians have common ancestors, hence their DNA is common.

    Indresh had said in 2020 that no maulana has ever helped Muslims like Modi has. Speaking at an event on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said, “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, some people claimed that Muslim colonies will be destroyed and they will be deprived of jobs and other facilities. Today, six years have passed and nothing bad has happened to Muslims. In fact, Muslims were given gas connections and other facilities. No maulana has ever helped Muslims like Modi has. The fear being spread in the name of CAA is ridiculous and wrong.”

    Indresh belongs to Kaithal in Haryana and has studied mechanical engineering at the Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. In 2019, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi~Farsi University in Lucknow awarded Indresh an honorary doctorate in literature at its convocation.

    (With inputs from TOI)

  • sainik schools: Kerala Minister writes to Rajnath Singh on politicisation of Sainik schools

    Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has written to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressing concern about the alleged politicisation of Sainik Schools. According to a statement issued by Sivankutty’s office on Friday, the minister in his letter has said that handing over running Sainik Schools to organisations with political affiliations will erode the independence and openness of the institutions.

    “Sainik Schools are important institutions for future defence personnel and therefore, should not be dragged into politics at any level. “For this reason, I request you to maintain the reputation of these establishments to guarantee national security and ensure fairness in education,” the minister has said in his letter to Singh.

    Recently, an online media platform — ‘The Reporters’ Collective’ — had reported that the government handed over 62 per cent of the new Sainik Schools to people associated with Sangh Parivar, politicians from the BJP and its allies. Citing the report, the CPI(M)’s national leadership had alleged that a significant number of private institutions which have entered into an agreement with the Sainik School Society to run new Sainik Schools have RSS-BJP links.

    The Left party had also condemned the government for facilitating the participation of private players to run Sainik Schools and said the move reinforces “communalisation of education” and can also impact the “high secular standards” of military establishment.

    The report was rejected by the Defence Ministry which had asserted that a rigorous selection process was followed to finalise institutions to run the new Sainik Schools. “The political or ideological affiliation or otherwise of the applicant institution does not influence the selection process,” it had said. “Attempts to politicise or distort the objectives and implementation of the scheme by casting aspersions on it are unwarranted and misleading,” the ministry had added.

  • ‘Muslims Coined Term Bharat Mata Ki Jai’: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Challenges RSS Amid CAA Row |

    MALAPPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stirred a debate by claiming that the iconic nationalistic slogans ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ were initially coined by Muslims. Speaking at a rally in the Muslim-majority Malappuram district on Monday, Vijayan emphasized the significant role of Muslims in India’s history and independence movement.

    Azimullah Khan: The Originator Of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’

    Vijayan highlighted historical figures to support his claim, citing Azimullah Khan as the individual behind ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Kerala CM’s assertion challenges the mainstream narrative surrounding the origins of the slogan, prompting reflection on the diversity of contributions to India’s nationalist ethos.

    Abid Hasan And The ‘Jai Hind’ Slogan

    In a similar vein, Vijayan credited Abid Hasan, an old diplomat, with the creation of the ‘Jai Hind’ slogan. By acknowledging Hasan’s role, the CM underscored the multicultural fabric of India’s nationalist fervour, transcending religious boundaries.

    Role Of Muslims In India’s Freedom Movement

    The CM further emphasized the integral role played by Muslims in India’s struggle for independence. Drawing attention to their contributions, CM Vijayan aimed to foster inclusivity and recognition of diverse narratives within the national discourse.

    Kerala CM Slams CAA

    Transitioning to contemporary politics, Vijayan criticized the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), alleging discriminatory intent against Muslims. He accused the RSS-led BJP government of marginalizing Muslims through the CAA, sparking resistance from Kerala’s politically aware populace.

    Amidst his criticism, CM Vijayan lambasted the opposition Congress party for purportedly lacking sincerity in opposing the CAA. He cited instances where Congress leaders were absent during protests, contrasting it with the active involvement of Left leaders.

    CM Vijayan didn’t shy away from criticizing the central government and its alleged tacit approval of violence against anti-CAA protestors. He drew parallels between RSS ideology and fascist doctrines, challenging the foundations of the Sangh Parivar’s political ethos.

  • ‘Failed to check surge of Hindutva forces’, admits CPM on national setbacks

    Express News Service

    KANNUR: On an introspective mode after back-to-back electoral and political setbacks at the national level, the CPM has set in motion the rectification process. The failure in cashing in on people’s agitations and converting them to mass agitations has been pointed out. 

    With its ever shrinking political space, the CPM feels it failed to effectively counter the Sangh Parivar’s Hindutva ideology and propaganda. The organisational report presented at the 23rd party congress has been highly self critical for the leadership’s failure in implementing many decisions.

    The party’s membership has seen a major decline after the last party congress when the membership came down to 9.85 lakh in 2021 from 10.07 lakh in 2018. 

    “The Hindutva campaign is highly dangerous as it engulfs other sectors like socio-cultural spheres, and has been trying to replace historical facts with mythology and superstitions. However the CPM couldn’t effectively counter the spread of this ideology,” said a top leader. 

    The party which looked at its structural and ideological failures in opposing Hindutva, observed that it should’ve run effective counter campaigns.

    “While we say that scientific temper should be maintained and history is being replaced, we need to effectively campaign and communicate. That has not been done. Now the party is thinking about running effective campaigns through literature and other measures,” he added. 

    Most delegates who spoke on the report cited urgent need of rectification measures. It was pointed out that many of the decisions taken at the last Party Congress were not implemented. The Politburo cited the pandemic as reason for the same.

    However the delegates who spoke at the meeting were not happy with the explanation. They said it’s a grave lapse on the part of the central leadership and should be rectified without fail. 

    “The delegates however bought the explanation with a pinch of salt, as they pointed out that a few other historic struggles like the peasants and workers movements happened during this period. Some of them were of the opinion that the central leadership wasted the first two years. Had they attempted, there could’ve been results is how they saw it,” said sources. 

    The politburo also identified areas for improvement. Weakness in grassroot level implementation too was pointed out. Many decisions taken at the top level are not being executed at the branch level due to lack of structural mechanism at the lower level. Many decisions remain only on paper.

    The leadership’s failure to effectively convert people’s struggles to major campaigns too was pointed out. The organisational report has pointed out the need to educate people from states, where the BJP is not a major force, about the threat posed by the Sangh Parivar.

    Briefing the media, PB member Prakash Karat admitted that there are decisions which could have and should have been implemented, but which couldn’t implement due to different reasons. 

    “We couldn’t implement many decisions taken during the last Party Congress. It’s due to many factors including those that are beyond our control. Now the focus is how to build up the party’s independent strength,” he said. 

    KN Balagopal who opened the debate on Kerala was highly critical of the central leadership. He pointed out that despite its strength and concentration in Delhi, the central leadership failed to effectively intervene in national politics.

    Other than frequent press notes and media conferences, nothing substantial was done. He also criticised the leadership for not taking enough measures to induct more youngsters through vibrant student political programmes. 

    Many other delegates too spoke on similar lines. The leadership will respond to the discussion on Sunday, after which the party will elect its new leadership including three new Central Committee and Politburo members. 

  • Will no longer call RSS ‘Sangh Parivar’, it’s a misnomer: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said it is not right to call the RSS and its associated groups ‘Sangh Parivar’ as a family has women, respect for elders, compassion and affection, and the organisation has none of these.

    Gandhi’s remarks come a day after he said the alleged harassment of nuns belonging to a Kerala-based congregation in Uttar Pradesh was a result of the Sangh Parivar’s “vicious propaganda” to pitch one community against another and trample on minorities.

    In a tweet in Hindi on Thursday, he said he will no longer refer to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as ‘Sangh Parivar’, united family.

    “I believe it is not right to call the RSS and associated organizations Sangh Parivar — there are women in the family, there is respect for the elderly, a sense of compassion and affection — which is not there in the RSS,” he said on Twitter.

    “Now I will not call RSS ‘Sangh Parivar’!” the Congress leader added.