Don’t be just a junior ally in J&K: RSS to BJP

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 3

The BJP’s ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is believed to be unhappy with the party which is in coalition with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the second day of the three-day RSS-BJP coordination committee meeting on Thursday, Sangh leaders, sources said, suggested to the BJP not to act like a junior partner in the J-K Government.

Sangh leaders were concerned over the public perception that the BJP had compromised with its core ideology in the state, sources said. They were miffed with the BJP-PDP government allowing for space to the anti-national forces in the state, sources said.

Under the presence of the RSS top leaders, including Mohan Bhagwat, the meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Health Minster JP Nadda, besides other government functionaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the meeting on Friday. 

Although the proceedings of the meeting are not known, sources said during the deliberations, Sangh leaders also voiced concerns over the expansionist and mischievous designs of religious fundamentalist groups. The leaders discussed the possible outside threats to national security and stressed the need for greater vigil on the part of the security forces. North-eastern states’ affairs were also discussed in the meeting.

The Sangh cautioned the BJP not to rest easy after formation of the government. It is said to have expressed concern over the good policies framed by the NDA government not translating at the ground level.

Sangh leaders wondered why the BJP was not able to expand its wings in states where the sangh had a sizeable presence. They urged the BJP to expand their base in states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, where it was not in power.

The impending Assembly elections in Bihar and the states which will be going to polls in the coming three years, including UP and Punjab, were also discussed.

The coordination committee meeting is a biannual affair. However, this is the first meeting after the Narendra Modi government took charge. It is attended by the top brass of RSS and its 15 affiliate organisations, and the BJP, including its Union Ministers. The meeting is taking stock of the current social, political and economic issues of the country. This meeting is also organised to give feedback to the government with regard it policies.