RSS ‘sangam’ to draw support attracts lakhs

Congress-NCP claims conclave was aimed at gathering political mileage, Sangh denies charge

In a serious attempt to establish itself in the Western Maharashtra region, which has been the bastion of Congress and NCP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organised a convention in Pune on Sunday. However, both Congress and NCP leaders claimed that their parties will not be affected by RSS’ show of strength.

The convention, held at a 450-acre ground near Hinjewadi IT Park on the outskirts of Pune on Sunday saw the presence of approximately 1,58,572 swayamsevaks. They attended the event in their traditional uniform to listen to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and another leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi. According to one of the RSS leaders, apart from the official figures, more than 1.5 lakh

RSS workers, 50,000 people from seven districts of Western Maharashtra attended the ‘Shiv Shakti Sangam’ the gathering of the organisation.

“The event must not be construed as a purely political one. Also, it was not organised to take over the Congress and NCP’s bastion. We had been planning for the convention for two years,” said an office bearer, under the condition of anonymity. “Last year, our convention was held at Devgiri (Aurangabad) and before that Vidarbha’s conclave was held in 2014,” the source added.

To enable better organisation of events, the RSS has made four ‘prant’ (divisions) of the state in which Vidarbha, Devgiri (Marathwada), western Maharashtra and Konkan Prant are included.

Also speaking on the conclave, Sarang Wable, RSS’ local coordinator said, “The purpose of the meet was to project Sangh as a positive force in the society, and to open up to the wider audience. We primarily wanted to highlight the ideals of discipline practised among the followers of the Sangh. We felt there is a need to showcase the core aspects of the Sangh to society.”

Though RSS has denied that the event was not held to garner political mileage, Opposition parties like Congress and NCP consider it otherwise.

“As the BJP is in power at the Centre and state, RSS, its ideological mother organisation will try to focus on the region where it wants to strengthen its roots,” said Sunil Tatkare, NCP state president.He further said that “sangams” of this sort would not affect its party roots as it has a strong foundation in western Maharashtra. “However, we have to plan the means to counter their methods of trying to win the support of the people in the region,” said Mr Tatkare.

Prithviraj Chavan, former chief minister, said that it is but natural that the RSS would focus on strengthening its organisation in western Maharashtra. “Pune was the RSS’s cultural capital till (Mahatma) Gandhi’s incident (assassination). Later, the organisation shifted to Nagpur but its roots remain here (Pune) and that may be the reason behind they choose Pimpri to hold their conclave,” said Mr Chavan. He added that Congress and NCP should unite, putting aside their differences, to combat the RSS ideology.