No one can challenge Modi within and outside the party: Dr Chandra

Reflecting on the current situation between BJP and RSS, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra stresses that while both organisations are supplementary to each other, their current ‘standoff’ does not bear them well since the Opposition will gain ground and could lead to winning more in the upcoming State polls. Dr Chandra also highlights that the statements given by Mohan Bhagwat and later by Indresh Kumar were not a deliberate attempt to derail the BJP, how RSS is not unhappy with JP Nadda in this entire scenario, why Indresh Kumar’s statement was not required, and how the statement fiasco has somewhat maligned RSS’ image. Excerpts... (Part II)

• Can you imagine a BJP without RSS’s support and vice versa? Does the ‘Two-Headed Swan’ idiom is realised here?
  Dr Jagdeesh Chandra: As of today, that idiom surely exists in reality and it will remain so till the time these two organisations are separated, may they keep functioning in the same fields later on and may cross paths at different times, but on the ground, they may then be separate. Till the time they do not part ways in a friendly environment, till then, the BJP and the RSS will be like the ‘TwoHeaded Swan.’ This saying came into prevalence after a senior journalist went to Russia over two decades back and visited the Kremlin, where he saw an insignia of a swan with two heads. On one of the heads was written ‘East’ and on the other head was written ‘West’. At that time Russia’s policy was to balance both East and West. Someone asked what would happen if one of the heads of the proverbial swan fell down, to which the authorities replied that the swan would die. So, in today’s situation between RSS and BJP, who are like this swan, if they do not improve themselves and do not sort out their differences, so the way this time votes were not cast in huge numbers in BJP’s favour, next time, something major may happen and the existing structure of working between BJP and RSS would crumble and that will be the start of the end of that structure.

• Mohan Bhagwat made the statement after which Indresh Kumar also gave statements on the same lines. However, RSS maintains that it was not an intentional statement. If it was not intentional or if it was not aimed at BJP, then what is your take on this entire process?
  This is a general way of handling situations. When we give statements that have such an effect, then someone comes up and says that the statement has been misquoted or misconstrued. In this case, it has not been misquoted, but humbly they have said that it was not a remark on the central government. However, the entire nation knows what was said and what it meant. It does not heed well if you claim to close your eyes and one has to accept the truth. But it is also good that they had such feelings in their heart which somehow shows a correctional approach. It appears that they wanted to do a back-track on what they said so, it is a welcome move.

• It is being said that RSS is not too happy with JP Nadda’s role in the entire incident?
  Truth be told, JP Nadda is such a nice person that no one can get angry with him. He would merely smile and the chapter would end. Basically, JP Nadda is more of an RSS person than a BJP person. He was in the organisation and came in touch with Narendra Modi and one thing is for sure, once someone comes in touch with Modi, he or she would be so influenced by him that they would automatically align themselves with Modi. Perhaps RSS leadership also thought that he had become more close to PM Modi. In this particular case, Nadda must not have approved it, rather it must have been approved by top leadership. Besides you have to carry out the role which you have been assigned so he had to say something. It surely comes to mind that such and such person was ours’ and what is he saying now? But at such times, one would ignore the statements, realising that it is not his personal remark, but the policy statement of the party. So, that is what it is. Nadda would meet the RSS leadership and smile at them and the topic would end.

• Some critics have also questioned the timing of Mohan Bhagwat’s statement. What is your take on that?
  There are two thoughts going about in the social media realm. Some people stressed that RSS was waiting for the BJP to lose and Narendra Modi to become weak and RSS would strike. So in that aspect, one may say that Modi has weakened a bit so RSS has struck. But another aspect of this theory, as claimed by those associated with RSS, is that Mohan Bhagwat or Indresh Kumar do not need to wait for an opportune time. Although there was disappointment in the mind, had the statement been given prior to the election, it would have resulted in some loss to the party and a message would have gone that the party lost owing to RSS’ statement. So, they did not give any statement then. So, I do not think that there was any malafide intent in giving that statement.

• But what happened that within 24 hours, Indresh Kumar had to backtrack his statement?
  A person is a servant to situations or circumstances. When the statement was made, he must have realised that when Mohan Bhagwat said so, then what is the relevance of his statement and was uncalled for? It was not needed. I believe there must have been some pressure on him and his friends in the BJP must have asked him why he was making such statements or getting in the middle of heavy-weights. Perhaps someone in the RSS asked him to go slow as the matter is being handled by senior leaders. This is my assumption. Hence, he took back what he said. And a positive thing is that he said that he wants the government to progress manifold which is a good thing. He also said that this is the government of ‘Ram Bhakts’ means he said that this is not the government of Congress or any other party.

• Has Sangh’s prestige and glory suffered a setback owing to the backtracking on the statement?
  Yes, to some extent. RSS is an organisation, which makes to-the-point statements, and that too extremely rarely. It is always a well-drafted and wellworded statement. Now Indresh Kumar gave a statement and had to roll back. So you are right, it was an embarrassment to Indresh Kumar as well as RSS. But on the other side, I do not think that someone would have told Indresh Kumar to issue a statement rather it must have been an automatic reaction. This means that RSS workers perhaps have some sense of frustration or are disheartened towards the BJP which they are unable to hide. And as soon as they found an opportunity, they expressed themselves. So, it is important for the BJP to look into this matter and suppose, that both these organisations decide to walk on different paths, but at least till the time they are together, they should try to be cordial and on the same page publicly. Indresh Kumar’s statement reflects that perhaps there is dissatisfaction or resentment among RSS workers which needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.

• JP Nadda’s tenure is ending on June 30. In this regard, suspicion is also being cast, if RSS is trying to pressurise BJP that the next BJP national chief is selected with RSS’ approval?
  Mohan Bhagwat and RSS are too big as a person and as an institution that they would try to pressurise the BJP leadership to choose a President of RSS’ choice. It is a policy decision and when it will have to happen, it will. The BJP President is a small factor in the entire scheme of things or the likely separation or staying together of RSS and BJP and the empowerment between the two. So the issue surrounding the BJP Chief is a small issue and as such they know who is going to come and all the names that will be discussed in the near future will be somehow connected with RSS or have an RSS background. The only difference is that some are purely RSS-backed individuals and some fall just a tad short of that marking even though they have some or the other connect in the Sangh. But what can one do? Even if an RSS man is appointed to the BJP President’s office, he will have to come in contact with Amit Shah and Narendra Modi and will become theirs. As such now BJP has become careful not to appoint anyone without consultation and RSS has realised that now they can do their homework on prospective names that are suggested by BJP leadership. So there is some sort of caution for both the organisation to undergo some homework in this regard.

• So then who could be the front-runner for the post of BJP National President?
  All the front runners are seated behind Narendra Modi. The first front-runner is Bhupender Yadav, who is considered a mastermind in organisational matters and has been made a minister. Second is Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also a minister. Thirdly, perhaps Modi saw a ray of hope in Manohar Lal Khattar, but he too has been made a minister. Shivraj Singh Chouhan too is in the ministry. CR Patil, a Modi loyalist and person adept at organisational work, he too has become a minister. Now there is a vacuum for the post of party president and there are a handful of names that are doing the round, But what will happen finally? Among the names are Vinod Tawre, Devendra Fadnavis, Sunil Bansal, Om Mathur, Anurag Thakur, Smriti Irani, and a few others and names will be decided from among these leaders. But the most interesting aspect is who are these people. Will the next chief be a hundred percent RSS man or a hundred percent BJP man? What will be the permutation of this? So let’s see it is an interesting aspect because this may also prove to be another turning point between RSS and BJP as it will establish who has had the most say in the appointment of the next chief.

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