Rahul’s targeting of RSS chief Bhagwat backfires

Rahul Gandhi’s remark on Mohan Bhagwat sparks tension, leaving allies like Sharad Pawar in a politically awkward spot.

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stirred controversy by directly targeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, making him the first prominent opposition figure to do so. While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also had criticised Bhagwat’s remarks about ‘true independence’ was when Ayodhya Ram Temple was consecrated, her opposition aligns with her state’s Muslim appeasement politics, aimed at her core vote bank. However, her influence is largely confined to Bengal, making her comments less impactful compared to Gandhi’s direct attack.

In any other country Bhagwat would be ‘arrested’ for his remarks, Rahul Gandhi said, challenging the view making clear that the Constitution of India is the symbol of India’s freedom. This has put Rahul’s allies like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar who has previously praising the RSS’s work in an awkward position.

Gandhi’s narrative bolsters Congress’s appeal among Muslim voters, a narrative frequently tied to the party. And, Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot defended Gandhi by linking his remarks to alleged misuse of central agencies by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the BJP and RSS have seized the opportunity to accuse Congress of Muslim appeasement.

The RSS, a powerful organization with a well-established grassroots network, is likely to counter Gandhi’s criticism effectively.

Sources suggest that the RSS has intensified its activities in Delhi, focusing on slum areas and underprivileged communities through small meetings. These sessions aim to emphasize BJP’s developmental schemes while promoting Hindutva and nationalism. Similar strategies in Maharashtra’s Dharavi slums significantly has proven to have boosted BJP’s performance.

In Delhi, the RSS is aiming for a similar turnaround, especially as BJP strategists anticipate dissatisfaction among middle and upper-class voters with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). If BJP succeeds in Delhi, the same model could be replicated in other states ahead of crucial elections.

With the RSS countering Congress’s narrative through its vast network, the latter’s organizational weaknesses and over-reliance on a single family for leadership have become apparent. Gandhi’s criticism, seen as a challenge to the majority community, may strengthen the BJP’s and RSS’s position further.

Gandhi’s attack on the RSS may have unintended consequences, as the BJP and its allies use this as an opportunity to consolidate their position among majority voters.

As the BJP strategizes for upcoming elections, the RSS’s ability to rally support at the grassroots level remains a formidable advantage.

RSS, known for its work in education and social outreach through initiatives like Seva Bharati and Vidya Bharati, the RSS actively engages with diverse communities, promoting nationalism and Hindutva. This extensive network has played a key role in the BJP’s electoral victories in states like Haryana and Maharashtra.