Mumbai,February 02:The Sangh-Sena rift over identity politics in Maharashtra moved a step closer to rupture on Monday after the BJP threw its weight behind the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the issue. Amid hardening positions on both sides, BJP president Nitin Gadkari backed the RSS view articulated by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, even as Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray launched a broadside against the RSS, asking it to keep off the Mumbai-for-Marathis issue.
“We do not believe in any linguistic, religious or regional identity that discriminates or differentiates. The BJP believes that there may be different languages and costumes (in various states) but it is one country… There is no conflict between regional and national identities,’’ said Gadkari. He, however, denied that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was under threat.
Many senior party leaders, who were initially hesitant to back the RSS’ hard posture, seemed to have accepted it. They said the BJP never supported the Sena’s campaign, but had to stand by it because they were an old ally. The RSS statement has clarified things once and for all, they said.
While the break-up may not be formalised soon, there’s little doubt that the RSS is orchestrating the BJP’s political line. Senior BJP leaders are candid in stating that Bhagwat’s statement on migrants in Mumbai was aimed at sending out a strong message that the BJP will draw up its own roadmap that is independent of the Sena’s local politics.
A senior BJP general secretary said, “Officially, we may not have declared our divorce. But for all practical purposes we have decided to part ways.” He added: “The RSS has set the stage for a political confrontation deliberately as it wants the BJP to come out of the Sena’s shadow in Maharashtra.”
In Delhi, BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar confirmed the RSS line: “What the RSS has said is absolutely correct. All over India, every citizen has rights and all political parties should respect this basic feeling among all Indians.’’
Manmohan Vaidya, the RSS prachar pramukh, elaborated on Bhagwat’s stand saying that the grievance that locals were not getting employment due to migrants might be right. But to restrain our countrymen from going to other places within the country was not a solution. Political parties should look beyond vote bank politics, he said.
Earlier in the day, Uddhav Thackeray slammed RSS leader Ram Madhav for his statement asking Sangh cadres to protect North Indians in Maharashtra. “Ram Madhav should not worry about the Mumbai issue and should not teach us patriotism and unity,” he said, adding, “During the 1992 Hindu-Muslim riots, the Sena protected Hindus but where was RSS that time?” Ram Madhav should worry about south Indian states and teach Hindi in those states, Uddhav said.
Interestingly, Ram Madhav on Monday sought to dissociate himself from the statement about protecting north Indians. He clarified that he had only advocated a fear-free atmosphere in the state.
In Delhi, home minister P Chidambaram did his own plain speaking on the issue. “We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. Mumbai belongs to all of India and all Indians are free to live and work in Mumbai,” he said at a press conference. “These are pernicious theses and they have to be rejected,” he said.