JOIN USThe saffron brigade seems be applying a two-pronged approach towards the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal with the BJP taking a political stand and the RSS attacking the ruling party directly.
In what could be called its first-ever public rally in a decade, the RSS let its rivals know that it will not take a “Gandhian” approach in trying to prevent attacks on its members anywhere in Bengal.
What earlier seemed like a regular rally of the RSS at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday became a venue from where a challenge was thrown at the TMC.
Tathagata Roy, senior BJP leader and party candidate in the recent general election, announced from the dais that he was there in the capacity of a Swayamsevak (cadre) and he made his agenda clear.
“Don’t dare touch us! We’re not Gandhians. We won’t remain silent if we come under attack. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee had said we need to protest, resist and even take revenge, if necessary,” said Roy, a BJP central committee member.
He was accompanied on the stage by Atul Kumar Biswas, South Bengal chief of RSS and Dilip Ghosh, state secretary of the Hindu Jagran Manch.
While the RSS, which otherwise shies away from publicity and public appearances, made it clear that the BJP has emerged as a political force to reckon with in Bengal, the confidence of BJP leaders like Roy, with roots in the Sangh, seemed to herald a new era in Bengal politics, where, unlike the dying Left, the BJP wants to be an opposition force that will not scamper for cover.
Those present in the rally stated in clear terms that the RSS will “protest, resist and retaliate” in case of a Trinamool attack.
“We know how to speak their (Trinamool’s) language. If they have any doubts about the abilities of the RSS, they should ask the communists how we reacted to their attacks in Kerala,” said Ghosh. While the rally was organised in the form of a protest meeting, this would be the first-ever public rally of the Sangh after two such rallies in 2001.
At the meeting attended by around 1,000 young men, the speakers lambasted the ruling party for imposing its “reign of terror” and “appeasing the minorities”.
Sangh leaders pointed out that the TMC is worse than the Left and termed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “communal” for her policies “upholding cause of the Muslims”.
Calling it a “dharma juddho” (holy war), Biswas called upon Hindus to be prepared for one. “This government is kicking Hindus in the stomach to give undue advantages to Muslims. We must participate in this ‘dharma juddho’,” he said.