The Statesman
RSS saffron offensive on in ‘red’ Bastar
3 May 2013
Ajaybhan Singh
RAIPUR, 2 MAY: Battered by the ground realities and massive corruption, the utopia of a better and peaceful Bastar is receding and so is the "euphoria" that the Maoist-hit region had brought to the ruling BJP, after it won 11 of the 12 Assembly seats in the area.
A worried RSS has therefore pitched itself into the difficult terrain to paint a Bastar that is rapidly turning red, saffron.
The saffron offensive came in the wake of increased differences among the grass-root cadre and the BJP leaders in the area that have left the party’s prime mentor, the RSS, no option but to launch a massive drive to consolidate the Hindu vote bank.
Jagdalpur, the central nervepoint of the Maoist-hit Bastar region, for the first time witnessed a mega-saffron-styled congregation on Ram Navami when tens of thousands of tribals and non-tribals flocked together to take out a procession. Many people were also brought from remote villages.
The unexpected move came as a shock to worried and disgruntled Congress workers.
As Mr Bhujit Doshi says: “The BJPs poll prospects are dimmed and dwindled by the rampant corruption and a total non-communication between the party workers and leaders. That is why they have roped in the RSS to communally divide the voters. But this time they will have to face defeat in Bastar.”
His father, Kirit Doshi was an eminent journalist who fought for the causes of the tribes and social harmony in Bastar. Mr Bhujit says since Bastar has no tradition of celebrating "Chaitra Navratri" on such a grand scale, the Ram Navami celebration by the Sangh Parivar, in the guise of Hindu new year created apprehensions.
Top RSS leaders orchestrated the event under their own guidance. Prantiya Pracharak of the conglomerate, Mr Deepak Vispute, along with scores of other seniors, supervised the event. VHP leader Mr Pravin Togadia also visited the area recently and slammed the Christian missionaries working in the area for their alleged “anti-national” role.
Mahara, a major Scheduled Caste group in the area, is also upset with the government for its reluctance to grant them ST status, while beleaguered party workers are fuming over the ministers neglecting them.
Even BJP insiders calculate the loss of at least three to four seats in Bastar. They may also lose some seats in another tribal hot-bed, Sarguja. The party is thinking of fielding Kanker MP Mr Sohan Potai in the Assembly election to save at least one seat where it has been rapidly losing its grip.
Other tribal areas are also on the saffron radar and similar offensive have been launched to re-ignite its cadres and consolidate the Hindu-vote bank.
After organising a grand “Aadivasi Mahakumbh” in Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh’s home turf, Rajnandgaon, the RSS, on Saturday, held a two-day national convention of the Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Grameen Majdur Sangh in former chief minister Mr Ajit Jogi’s home turf, Pendra-Gaurela in Bilaspur district.
The programme hosted more than 6,000 delegates from across the country along with several top RSS leaders.
The saffron offensive does not stop here, they have the unique distinction of inventing their own Kumbh in Chhattisgarh, which many believe, is in sharp contrast to the Hindu belief of there being only four Kumbhs ~ in Prayag, Ujjain, Nasik and Hardwar.
“Rajim-Kumbh”, the brain-child of PWD and Tourism Minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal, is the new name for what people over centuries have been calling, “Punni Mela” or purnima mela. The Opposition Congress and many in the BJP as well, allege that the so-called “Rajim-Kumbh” is a government extravaganza to benefit the siblings of tourism minister Aggarwal. His twin brothers are into a multitude of trades and businesses and Rajim Kumbh every year helps them, along with the saffron brigade.
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