In this episode of Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses the recent statements by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat. Bhagwat has conveyed a message of harmony while addressing the ongoing temple-mosque dispute. Mr. Nair questions why Bhagwat makes such neutral statements only after elections. He also highlights the disconnect between Bhagwat’s statements and the actions of Sangh-affiliated organizations.
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[00:00:00] Namaskar, Welcome to another episode of Editorial. Again Dr Mohan Bhagwat gave a speech and in his talk he made a lot of very positive and correct statements, secular statements, statements that spoke about brotherhood, togetherness, communal harmony and all that.
[00:00:35] My question tonight is why does Dr Mohan Bhagwat say something and RSS and Sangh Parivar does something else?
[00:00:50] Let's try and analyze this. Let's get right into the show.
[00:00:55] So Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that we have been living in harmony for a long time. If we have to provide this harmony to the world, we need to create a model of it. After the construction of Ram Temple, some people think they can become leaders of Hindu by raking up similar issues in new places. This is not acceptable.
[00:01:23] logic. Logic. What he is saying is, see all said and done, Ram Mandir, the consecration of Ram Mandir made a lot of people big leaders in India. Made a lot of people big leaders in India.
[00:01:37] And he says, don't use this as a formula to become leaders by talking about Mandir all the time. A very sensible statement I should say from coming from Dr Mohan Bhagwat.
[00:01:49] By building Ram Temple, which is a matter of faith for Hindus, one does not become a Hindu leader. Ram Temple is a matter of faith for Indians. Under the burden of the past, we should not resort to extreme hatred, malice, enmity and after raising doubts, we should not rake up new issues.
[00:02:08] Hey Baba, bas ho gaya, he is telling. Ho gaya, don't continue this. He went on to say every day a new chapter is being wrecked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue. India needs to show that we can live together.
[00:02:23] But now the country runs as per the constitution. In this setup, people choose their representative who runs the government. The days of hegemony are gone.
[00:02:33] It was decided Ram Temple or Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should be given to Hindus. But the British sensed and created rift between the two communities. Since then, this sense of Algawad, that is separatism, came into being. As a result, Pakistan came into existence.
[00:02:52] My last statement that I want to read of his is, who is minority? Who is majority? Everyone is equal here. The tradition of this nation is that all can follow their own forms of worship.
[00:03:05] The only requirement is to live in harmony and avoid by rules. This is what he told yesterday in one of his speeches.
[00:03:19] Why is Dr. Bhagwat saying something and his organization and he himself at times say something or does something else?
[00:03:31] Last sentence, who is a minority? Who is a majority? Everyone is equal here. Who said this? Mr. Mohan Bhagwat said this.
[00:03:40] Now, Mr. Mohan Bhagwat, a few days back, Mohan Bhagwat on the 1st of December had said that at least have three kids to avoid population crisis.
[00:03:51] He said that he urged Indian families to have at least three kids, citing demographic science.
[00:03:57] His remark linking population stability to survival.
[00:04:02] Yesterday, he says, who is minority? Who is majority? Everybody is equal.
[00:04:06] Then why balance? Why balance?
[00:04:10] So, why is he contradicting what he said on the 1st and what he said yesterday?
[00:04:18] Why difference in 19 days?
[00:04:20] You see, it was he who said that Hindu society must unite for its security by eliminating language, caste and regional difference and disputes.
[00:04:30] We have lived here since ancient times.
[00:04:34] Even though the term Hindu came later, Hindus embrace everyone.
[00:04:38] They live in harmony through continuous dialogues.
[00:04:41] He said Hindus, all caste and all should unite. Unite against whom?
[00:04:46] Unite against whom? Live in harmony.
[00:04:48] Of course, Hindus should live in harmony. Everybody should live in harmony.
[00:04:51] I would have understood if he said the entire country should unite and live in harmony.
[00:04:54] That is what he seems to be saying here.
[00:04:56] This is something else that he is saying in his earlier statement.
[00:04:59] Why does statement change?
[00:05:01] And why does statement change when it comes close to election?
[00:05:07] And why does statement change when it is after elections?
[00:05:12] Why does, like I asked you before, why does he say something and his organization and he later on does something else?
[00:05:19] Why does this happen?
[00:05:21] I see two reasons.
[00:05:23] Number one is brand image.
[00:05:29] RSS does not want to be seen as an extremist organization.
[00:05:34] RSS doesn't want to be seen like a Taliban.
[00:05:37] RSS doesn't want to be seen as a right-wing, hardcore Hindu organization.
[00:05:42] They don't want to be seen like that.
[00:05:44] And that is precisely why he makes statements like this.
[00:05:48] Statements which talks about love, which talks about harmony, which sounds very right.
[00:05:53] In advertising, we call it the right soundbites.
[00:05:56] He makes the right soundbites.
[00:05:59] At the end of the day, they say,
[00:06:01] See what the Sarasangachalak, the head of, the sung head of RSS said.
[00:06:08] This is point number one, brand image.
[00:06:10] Point number two.
[00:06:14] You see, if he actually meant all this,
[00:06:17] He would have told Yogi Adityanath,
[00:06:19] He would have told Mr. Narendra Modi,
[00:06:21] He would have told others who were campaigning in Maharashtra,
[00:06:24] That what you would have done and what you would have done.
[00:06:27] If you cut it, you cut it.
[00:06:30] If we are one, then we are one.
[00:06:37] We will be one and the whole.
[00:06:39] We will be one.
[00:06:40] We will be one.
[00:06:41] And that's why I am one from you.
[00:06:47] If we are one, then we will be safe.
[00:07:01] Why? Who is minority? Who is majority? Everyone is equal here. He would have said this. He
[00:07:08] could have said this. Why didn't he say that during the election? Why was he quiet? He
[00:07:14] meant this, no? So he should have been the first person to stand up and say, what are
[00:07:19] you talking about? What majority? What cut? That he didn't say. So the point is, elections,
[00:07:35] it's a different ideology. It's a different point of view. And it's a different narrative.
[00:07:43] Post-election, it's a different point of view. It's a different narrative. Election,
[00:07:49] you have one set of ideology, one set of narrative that helps you get votes. After the election,
[00:07:58] then one has to also look after the image of the organization. Therefore, it's a separate set
[00:08:03] of narrative and separate set of ideology. So while I completely appreciate what Dr.
[00:08:12] Mohan Bhagwat said, honestly, what he said actually made a lot of sense. What he says is making a lot
[00:08:18] of sense. But I hope he puts this into practice. I hope the Sangha Parivar puts it, puts this into
[00:08:25] practice. I hope the Sangha Parivar actually ideas and executes what Dr. Mohan Bhagwat is saying.
[00:08:36] And most importantly, I hope Dr. Mohan Bhagwat sticks to what he says and sticks to what he believes
[00:08:46] other than changing statements, possibly every 15 days. This is what I wanted to talk to you today
[00:08:54] till I see you next time. That's tomorrow at 10. Namaskar.
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