RSS and BJP promote Hindu unity, focusing on SCs, STs, and OBCs in Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections.
New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological backbone of BJP is in full swing and has been sending the message of ‘Hindu Unity’ not just in India but across the borders- stressing on the current state of turbulence in Bangladesh where several reports claim the attacks on Hindus after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government. While the situation in Bangladesh appears grim and has security implications for India, the RSS since the fall of Sheikh Hasina has been consistently calling for the unity amongst Hindus and this slogan has been finding a huge space across both, RSS and BJP leaders.
During the Haryana elections, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath at a program in Agra came out with a slogan- “Batenge to Katenge (“we will be killed if we are divided”) while referring to the problems Hindus are facing in neighbouring Bangladesh and to send out a message of unity amongst the Hindu caste fold. This slogan came at a time when the opposition I.N.D.I Alliance had been banking on the ‘caste census’ and looking for the political support form Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes, which constitute a huge percentage in the Hindu fold.
Political pundits claim that the loss of majority by BJP in the Lok Sabha election was because of the fact that the lower strata, including STs, SCs and OBCs drifted away from the saffron fold due to the claims by the opposition, including by former President of Congress Rahul Gandhi that BJP is anti-SC, ST and OBC and that they will change the constitution.
BJP intensifies campaigns for Hindu Unity
After using the slogan “Batenge toh Katenge” in Haryana, BJP is now introducing it in the poll-bound states of Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
In Jharkhand, out of a total of 81 seats 28 seats are reserved for STs and the state has a huge tribal population. BJP which faced electoral setbacks in both, last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the tribal dominated areas is banking on the issues of infiltration and mass conversion. To unite the Hindu voters, people aware of the matter said that the Sangh Parivar has already begin door-to-door campaigns to make people aware of the importance of Hindu unity and how infiltration and mass conversion amongst tribals have been continuing in the JMM-Congress rule.
Assam Chief Minister and BJP’s co-in-charge for Jharkhand Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma recently lashed out at the Jharkhand government over the issue of infiltration, alleging that it could turn the state into “mini Bangladesh” while particularly talking about the demographic change in Santhal Pargana and stressed on BJP’s promise of implementing NRC in the state if it returns to power.
Similarly in Maharashtra wherein the elections are scheduled for November 20, posters featuring Yogi Adityanath and the slogan “Batenge to Katenge” have appeared in various parts of Mumbai. The opposition has been the blaming the BJP-RSS duo of fuelling Hindu-Muslim divide, but the saffron brigade appears strong on the ground and has been conducting thousands of small meetings across the state of Maharashtra.
According to a senior leader in the saffron camp, “CM Yogi’s slogan “Batenge to Katenge” made a huge impact during the Haryana elections and the same slogan is now being raised by both, RSS and BJP. After a remarkable victory in Haryana, BJP is all set to repeat the victory in both the states, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.”
“RSS and its affiliated outfits have been working hard on the ground and have been spreading awareness about infiltration and conversion and specifically in Santhal Parganas in Jharkhand. Similarly in Maharashtra, we are consolidating the, SCs, STs and OBCs as our main aim is to unite all the Hindus irrespective of caste division. We do not indulge in active politics but our work on the ground is to keep engaging with the people and make them aware about the issues of Hindus”, he added.