Editorial: A Drowning Kalyan Catches at RSS
…a trend has caught up with a section of saffron politicians, of late: looking to Sangh for hearing of their supplications. What RSS thinks to be its core ideology and what BJP has used as a political weapon against its political rivals has thus been turning into an effective arm for party or ex- party members to get them satiated. It will be interesting to see how Sangh will tackle Kalyan…
Kalyan Singh’s move to desert a sound BJP and his ambition to return to its beleaguered version is noteworthy. Switching allegiance is no longer frowned upon in country’s politics anymore, but Singh’s careful mooting of Ram Janmbhoomi movement, admiration of Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat for efforts to reinforce the BJP, and subsequent frigid response from the saffron party to his comeback makes it clear once again that there is barely any taker of his ‘remorse of quitting’, ‘readiness to penance’, and ‘will to strengthen’ the party from outside in the BJP and that his clout in Uttar Pradesh politics has dwindled. Terming Mulayam Singh a ‘Traitor’ or an ‘Opportunist’ really doesn’t count in this backdrop even if his accusations were true. Interestingly, Kalyan Singh fought when Mulayam Singh held him responsible for Muslims (among others) deserting SP because of him but preferred to cling to Ram temple agenda to seek his return to saffron party. His argument that Yadavs, OBCs and Vaishyas too left SP besides Muslims and Mulayam Singh has no explanation of it is theoretically correct. But it shows his insensitiveness to Muslims and confirms that his alliance with Mulayam Singh and SP was non-farsighted and erroneous in the first place, with both sides sharing the guilt of opportunism.
Anyway, a trend has caught up with a section of saffron politicians, of late: looking to Sangh for hearing of their supplications. It’s fathomable due to lack of a virtual leadership in BJP and supremacy of Sangh at the moment but in Kalyan Singh’s case, it’s particularly noticeable. Arun Shourie’s genuflection to RSS while vituperating at party leadership worked wonders and set an example for others to follow. Kalyan Singh tried to be meticulous enough to go Shourie way. Besides singing lyrical about Bhagwat’s efforts, he raises Ram temple agenda for quick, enhanced efficacy of his measure and supplements it with remorse and willingness of penance. Unfortunately for him, he is not a dissident within BJP but an individual politician outside it, ineligible for certain favours. However, if he visits Ayodhya soon in connection with temple issue as he has hinted, it’ll pressurize Sangh to consider him. Ironically, what RSS thinks to be its core ideology and what BJP has used as a political weapon against its political rivals has been lately turning into an effective arm for party or ex- party members to get them heard and satiated.
When Varun Gandhi, despite Hindutva not being its plank in last general elections, took resort to it, BJP remained mute not to anger Sangh and its vote-base. Now there will be a new situation. People will highlight issues advocated by Sangh for their individual benefits, a practice nothing short of blackmail if it’s a correct word, for Sangh cannot ignore them for being advocate of what it has spent decades to form a base. RSS has taken Shourie lightly. It will be interesting to see how Sangh will tackle Kalyan. Or Kalyans. If it submits to them, it lets the rot in; and if it ignores them, it ignores the cause they are shaming to represent; for public, as it has experienced, has been influenced by certain issues, not by morality, or piousness, or sainthood of the men raising them.
