Saffron brigade looks forward to Bhagwat’s speech

At a time when the BJP-led government is battling divergent issues including religious intolerance and literary figures returning their awards in protest, reservation for various castes and sects, Bihar elections in addition to soaring food prices, the political observers and saffron organisations are looking forward to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s customary Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur on Thursday.

At a time when the BJP-led government is battling divergent issues including religious intolerance and soaring food prices, political observers and saffron organisations are looking forward to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s customary Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur on Thursday.

File photo of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. (PTI)

The speech of the head of the Hindutva fountainhead is often seen as a pointer to the way its affiliate organisations and political offshoots will function in the year to come.

And coming ahead of the final phase of Bihar elections, Bhagwat’s speech will be more than keenly watched by both its cadres and the Opposition. Bhagwat had already triggered a controversy by speaking about the need for a reservation policy review.

Political pundits and different political parties are also waiting to see how the sangh chief reacts to the recent Dadri killing. Slamming writers who have returned their awards in the wake of the incident in Dadri where a man was lynched over beef rumours, the RSS mouthpiece, Panchjanya, had already carried a cover story saying the Vedas order the killing of “sinners” who slaughter cows.

The RSS insiders in Nagpur say that Bhagwat may harshly react in his customary speech on writers who have returned their awards in protest against the prevailing “intolerance” atmosphere across the country for their “anti-sangh” bias.

Former chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and incumbent Niti Aayog member Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat has been invited as the chief guest of the programme.

The speech by the RSS chief is keenly watched by policy makers and people across the country and will be telecast live on www.vsknagar.org.

It is also expected to be broadcast live by Doordarshan. The official TV broadcaster courted controversy last year when it telecast Bhagwat’s speech live.

According to available information, a team of Doordarshan crew has already landed in Nagpur on Wednesday to cover the event. However, the local Doordarshan officials refused to divulge the details and comments on the issue.

Criticizing the state broadcaster, the Congress said on Wednesday that it is against law and ethics and “state media is being misused for propaganda”.

“This government is the real HMV- His Masters Voice! The HMV is not the Prime Minister, but the biggest remote control in Indian political history- RSS, which sits in Nagpur!” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters.