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Agra camp marks launch of poll campaign

The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh camp in Agra seems to be more of an exercise to mark the beginning of the campaign for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Though elections are due only in March 2002, political pundits predict a snap poll anytime next year. The Sangh Parivar does not seem to give a long term to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led loosely knotted coalition and is said to be evolving a strategy to build up the BJP's prospects.

Knowing how the BJP -- its ideological political offshoot -- has been discredited on most fronts, the RSS apparently chalked out the game-plan to rejuvenate the Hindutva and Ayodhya issues.

The message was evident at the RSS's five-day national camp, which was addressed by top RSS leaders, including former chief Rajju Bhaiya, chief K C Sudershan and second-in-command H V Sheshadri.

The fact that they criticised the BJP for soft-peddling on the temple issue reflected the mood of the Sangh Parivar's supreme ideological body. Bhaiya minced no words in urging participants to spread among the masses and educate them on the RSS's true objectives and "dispel misinformation about the organisation".

The former chief quoted Swami Vivekanand profusely to convey that "the 21st century belongs to India and Hindus". He explained, "There is a strong tussle going on between the Islamic and Christian worlds and it will forge Hindus ahead of everybody else."

He explained how Vivekanand's predictions had come true. "Vivekanand had said in 1897 that India would be free in 50 years - and so it did; he had predicted an initial period of serious struggle in the first five decades of Independence, after which there would be a turn of tide for India and for Hindus," Bhaiya told the gathering.

Sheshadri and Sudershan emphasised the need to strengthen Hindutva. "Whenever Hindus became weak or were divided, the nation suffered,'' Sheshadri said, citing examples of Kashmir and north-eastern Indian states.

They urged RSS volunteers to go on a door-to-door campaign in villages to explain to the masses how "the Sangh Parivar alone could forge India ahead of all other nations and also give a befitting reply to its enemies".

They also called for the creation of 'shakhas' in rural areas. "Tell the people to give an hour to these 'shakhas' every day and they will experience the difference it will make to their lives and in turn to their nation," Sudershan stated.

"It is time for an awakening of the Indian masses," he said, stressing on the need for mobilising mass support for a government "that could ensure construction of the Ram temple."

Sheshadri emphasised, "Once you build up people's power, all governments will fall at your feet."

Bhaiya, Sheshadri and Sudershan converged on one issue - "until we are able to install a full-fledged BJP government, the construction of the temple may not be feasible."

They sought to convey that the time was ripe for the Sangh Parivar to impress upon the masses "to further strengthen the BJP - with votes - for votes alone can decide who will be at the helm of affairs and in turn determine the fate of the temple."

RSS national spokesman Sureshrao Ketkar stated, "The temple has to be built at the proposed site - because Lord Ram was actually born right there; and if any government attempted to change that, it will have to face the consequences."

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