The Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan linked the Kashmir decision with the ideology of RSS, ruling BJP's ideological parent, and equated the organisation with the Nazis. Watch this video to know more.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan equates RSS with Hitler's Nazis

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the live streaming of the proceeding in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-land-dispute-case-mediation-panel-submits-report-to-supreme-court-240004">Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case</a> would require deliberation and institutional decision making.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde said that it would look into the administrative side of the matter after senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing on behalf of former RSS idealogue KN Govindacharya, mentioned the petition before it, seeking live streaming and recording of the proceedings in the Ayodhya case.

Singh submitted that for the time being, at least the recording of proceedings can be done and at the later stage, live streaming could be considered.

Govindacharya, in his petition, asserted that the public is being denied their right to access to justice under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The live streaming of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-case-mediation-failed-to-yield-results-daily-hearing-from-august-6-240161">the Ayodhya case</a> is required because in the absence of live streaming of proceedings of this Court, the public is also being denied their right to know as per Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the plea, filed through advocate Virag Gupta, stated.

"This Court has already held that `right of access to justice flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution or be it the concept of justice at the doorstep, would be meaningful only if the public get access to the proceedings as it would unfold before the courts and in particular, opportunity to witness live proceedings in respect of matters having an impact on the public at large or on a section of people," it stated.

The Supreme Court had on August 2 observed that the mediation panel on Ayodhya matter, failed to achieve any final settlement in the matter and decided to hold a day-to-day hearing in the case from August 6.

Fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which ordered equal division of the 2.77 acres disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the live streaming of the proceeding in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case would require deliberation and institutional decision making.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the live streaming of the proceeding in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case would require deliberation and institutional decision making. A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde said that it would look into the administrative side of the matter after senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing on behalf of former RSS idealogue KN Govindacharya, mentioned the petition before it, seeking live streaming and recording of the proceedings in the Ayodhya case. Singh submitted that for the time being, at least the recording of proceedings can be done and at the later stage, live streaming could be considered. Govindacharya, in his petition, asserted that the public is being denied their right to access to justice under Article 21 of the Constitution. The live streaming of the Ayodhya case is required because in the absence of live streaming of proceedings of this Court, the public is also being denied their right to know as per Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the plea, filed through advocate Virag Gupta, stated. "This Court has already held that `right of access to justice flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution or be it the concept of justice at the doorstep, would be meaningful only if the public get access to the proceedings as it would unfold before the courts and in particular, opportunity to witness live proceedings in respect of matters having an impact on the public at large or on a section of people," it stated. The Supreme Court had on August 2 observed that the mediation panel on Ayodhya matter, failed to achieve any final settlement in the matter and decided to hold a day-to-day hearing in the case from August 6. Fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which ordered equal division of the 2.77 acres disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Ayodhya case: Live streaming of proceeding will require deliberation and institutional decision making, says Supreme Court

Chhattisgarh Congress has decided to give create a strategy to counter the ideological push of RSS-BJP combine in the state. Though Congress continues to languish at the national level, the state leadership has decided to take things into their own hands.

Sources confirmed to WION that from August 1, Congress at block level would organise programmes connected with the theme of nationalism.

Sources said that even the names have been finalised. For example, one a given day, the tag line of the celebration would be, Zara yad karo qurbani.&nbsp;

Other tag lines finalised are "mashaal juloos and ek shaam shaheedon ke naam".&nbsp;

Sources also said that Congress is also giving final shape to organise ideological chaupals in the state where Congress leaders and workers would be told as to where Congress stands.&nbsp;

“The idea is to take our idea of nationalism to civil society through our workers and leaders,” said a person closely associated with the project.

Congress has been at the receiving from BJP on a number of ideological projects related to the birth of the nation. It is also connected to the legacy of big leaders who once belonged to the Congress but now has been adopted by BJP.

The best example in case is that of Sardar Patel. He is celebrated by very organisation whom he banned as India’s first Home Minister, post-assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. In this context, Congress has decided to organise programmes around the birth and death anniversaries of the leaders so that the idea for which they stood for gets discussed in public domain. Chhattisgarh was one state in 2018 where Congress swept to victory. In both, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Congress had to cobble up a majority.

Chhattisgarh Congress has decided to give create a strategy to counter the ideological push of RSS-BJP combine in the state. Though Congress continues to languish at the national level, the state leadership has decided to take things into their own hands.

Chhattisgarh Congress has decided to give create a strategy to counter the ideological push of RSS-BJP combine in the state. Though Congress continues to languish at the national level, the state leadership has decided to take things into their own hands. Sources confirmed to WION that from August 1, Congress at block level would organise programmes connected with the theme of nationalism. Sources said that even the names have been finalised. For example, one a given day, the tag line of the celebration would be, Zara yad karo qurbani. Other tag lines finalised are "mashaal juloos and ek shaam shaheedon ke naam". Sources also said that Congress is also giving final shape to organise ideological chaupals in the state where Congress leaders and workers would be told as to where Congress stands. “The idea is to take our idea of nationalism to civil society through our workers and leaders,” said a person closely associated with the project. Congress has been at the receiving from BJP on a number of ideological projects related to the birth of the nation. It is also connected to the legacy of big leaders who once belonged to the Congress but now has been adopted by BJP. The best example in case is that of Sardar Patel. He is celebrated by very organisation whom he banned as India’s first Home Minister, post-assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. In this context, Congress has decided to organise programmes around the birth and death anniversaries of the leaders so that the idea for which they stood for gets discussed in public domain. Chhattisgarh was one state in 2018 where Congress swept to victory. In both, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Congress had to cobble up a majority.

Chhattisgarh Congress to organise ideological 'chaupals' to counter RSS-BJP narrative in the state

An FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Azam Khan on Monday for allegedly making derogatory remarks against BJP leader Jaya Prada.

Ten other SP leaders were also named in the FIR.

On June 30, Azam Khan, while addressing the electorate for the first time since his win in the Lok Sabha elections, kicked up another row by using foul language against Jaya Prada.

The FIR has been registered under Section 294 (obscene acts) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 in the Information Technology Act.

During the Lok Sabha elections, too, Khan was banned from campaigning for 72 hours by the Election Commission for his derogatory remarks against Jaya Prada.

Azam Khan won from Rampur Lok Sabha seat in the recently held polls. He defeated BJP's&nbsp;Jaya Prada from the seat.&nbsp;

An FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Azam Khan on Monday for allegedly making derogatory remarks against BJP leader Jaya Prada. Ten other SP leaders were also named in the FIR.

An FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Azam Khan on Monday for allegedly making derogatory remarks against BJP leader Jaya Prada. Ten other SP leaders were also named in the FIR. On June 30, Azam Khan, while addressing the electorate for the first time since his win in the Lok Sabha elections, kicked up another row by using foul language against Jaya Prada. The FIR has been registered under Section 294 (obscene acts) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 in the Information Technology Act. During the Lok Sabha elections, too, Khan was banned from campaigning for 72 hours by the Election Commission for his derogatory remarks against Jaya Prada. Azam Khan won from Rampur Lok Sabha seat in the recently held polls. He defeated BJP's Jaya Prada from the seat.

FIR registered against Azam Khan, 10 others for making derogatory remarks against Jaya Prada

The principle reason why Indian liberalism has turned on its head is because of dynasties which have spawned all across political parties. Dynasties are undemocratic in nature, and hence, the functioning of the political parties remain undemocratic.

Social mobility lies at the core of liberal values. Liberalism was a movement against medieval institutions which stood for the politics of birth and entitlement. The aristocracy wanted to perpetuate the old order which liberal values challenged.

Liberal order fought for mobility in the society which freed labour and mind from traditional structures of social and political hierarchies. Indian democratic politics started with liberal politics at helms of the affair. The conservatives in Indian politics immediately after 1947 were a minority and did not enjoy social and cultural gravitas.

70 years down the line, every party in India claiming itself to be liberal has turned dynastic and conservative. BJP seems to be the only party holding ground to rampant dynasticism which exists in Indian politics.

The irony is that BJP does not call itself liberal but demonstrates the fastest political mobility within the organisation. It is not as if families are absent in RSS-BJP. They do exist, but power transition does not take place within one family. BJP is not hostage to one family. The party firmly rests on the principle of ideology than family loyalty. The vote catching job is not rested on the shoulder of the charism of a clan but on the organisation which has the build in capacity to outlast any individual. It is for this reason that BJP was able to make a transition from Vajpayee to Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The other big reason why parties which claim to be liberal became highly elitist and short on mobility because successive generations became more and more westernised but not the party. It created a social circuit within the all-powerful political spectrum which was distinct and different from the culture and ideology of the organisation.

For example, Rajiv Gandhi in 1980s wanted to change the party with his friends. Rahul Gandhi also fought with the top Congress brass with little help from his friends. Other regional parties have witnessed this development with various degrees. Such social circuits operate in most of the parties and claim to hold liberal values. This circle involves people related to the first family of a party in a personal way where loyalty to the family members is ranked over and above the organisation.

If one looks at BJP-RSS Parivar, the ideology of the parent outfit and health of the organisation is given primacy over the individual. Moreover, frontal organisations of RSS and BJP became a conduit to mainframe which is not the case with many other parties. Many leaders of these two subsets constitute the top rung of BJP now. Today, Congress cannot boost such mobility. The regional parties run by dynasts cannot promise mobility.

Mobility means that every post in a political party should be open to contest. Those parties which band around a family do not have the right to exist in modern societies because they only end up perpetuating a feudal system. Such parties should wither away making space for healthier options to come up. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

The principle reason why Indian liberalism has turned on its head is because of dynasties which have spawned all across political parties. Dynasties are undemocratic in nature, and hence, the functioning of the political parties remain undemocratic.

The principle reason why Indian liberalism has turned on its head is because of dynasties which have spawned all across political parties. Dynasties are undemocratic in nature, and hence, the functioning of the political parties remain undemocratic. Social mobility lies at the core of liberal values. Liberalism was a movement against medieval institutions which stood for the politics of birth and entitlement. The aristocracy wanted to perpetuate the old order which liberal values challenged. Liberal order fought for mobility in the society which freed labour and mind from traditional structures of social and political hierarchies. Indian democratic politics started with liberal politics at helms of the affair. The conservatives in Indian politics immediately after 1947 were a minority and did not enjoy social and cultural gravitas. 70 years down the line, every party in India claiming itself to be liberal has turned dynastic and conservative. BJP seems to be the only party holding ground to rampant dynasticism which exists in Indian politics. The irony is that BJP does not call itself liberal but demonstrates the fastest political mobility within the organisation. It is not as if families are absent in RSS-BJP. They do exist, but power transition does not take place within one family. BJP is not hostage to one family. The party firmly rests on the principle of ideology than family loyalty. The vote catching job is not rested on the shoulder of the charism of a clan but on the organisation which has the build in capacity to outlast any individual. It is for this reason that BJP was able to make a transition from Vajpayee to Narendra Modi. The other big reason why parties which claim to be liberal became highly elitist and short on mobility because successive generations became more and more westernised but not the party. It created a social circuit within the all-powerful political spectrum which was distinct and different from the culture and ideology of the organisation. For example, Rajiv Gandhi in 1980s wanted to change the party with his friends. Rahul Gandhi also fought with the top Congress brass with little help from his friends. Other regional parties have witnessed this development with various degrees. Such social circuits operate in most of the parties and claim to hold liberal values. This circle involves people related to the first family of a party in a personal way where loyalty to the family members is ranked over and above the organisation. If one looks at BJP-RSS Parivar, the ideology of the parent outfit and health of the organisation is given primacy over the individual. Moreover, frontal organisations of RSS and BJP became a conduit to mainframe which is not the case with many other parties. Many leaders of these two subsets constitute the top rung of BJP now. Today, Congress cannot boost such mobility. The regional parties run by dynasts cannot promise mobility. Mobility means that every post in a political party should be open to contest. Those parties which band around a family do not have the right to exist in modern societies because they only end up perpetuating a feudal system. Such parties should wither away making space for healthier options to come up. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Why liberal political parties run by dynasts are a gated community

The RSS will give constructive advice to the government whenever it falters, Mohan Bhagwat Sunday said as he cautioned that any democratically-elected dispensation should guard against any "misuse" of its power.

Addressing a Sangh gathering here, the RSS chief said, "Those getting elected in a democratic set-up have immense power, but this does not mean that it should be misused. If the government falters at any point in time, the Sangh will give it advice and suggestions with a positive point of view."

Bhagwat's comments came days after the Narendra Modi dispensation assumed office for a second term.

Later, he addressed another meeting of the RSS.

At the meeting, Bhagwat told "volunteers that they should not be arrogant, no matter how much good work they have done or how much they have helped others," according to RSS leader Mohan Agarwal.

"He also exhorted them to bring social equality, and eradicate illiteracy, drug and alcohol addiction and other social evils," Agarwal said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief arrived here on Saturday and is scheduled to attend a series of programmes.

The RSS will give constructive advice to the government whenever it falters, Mohan Bhagwat Sunday said as he cautioned that any democratically-elected dispensation should guard against any "misuse" of its power.

The RSS will give constructive advice to the government whenever it falters, Mohan Bhagwat Sunday said as he cautioned that any democratically-elected dispensation should guard against any "misuse" of its power. Addressing a Sangh gathering here, the RSS chief said, "Those getting elected in a democratic set-up have immense power, but this does not mean that it should be misused. If the government falters at any point in time, the Sangh will give it advice and suggestions with a positive point of view." Bhagwat's comments came days after the Narendra Modi dispensation assumed office for a second term. Later, he addressed another meeting of the RSS. At the meeting, Bhagwat told "volunteers that they should not be arrogant, no matter how much good work they have done or how much they have helped others," according to RSS leader Mohan Agarwal. "He also exhorted them to bring social equality, and eradicate illiteracy, drug and alcohol addiction and other social evils," Agarwal said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief arrived here on Saturday and is scheduled to attend a series of programmes.

RSS will give constructive advice to govt whenever it falters: Mohan Bhagwat

The Madhya Pradesh government is willing to re-open and investigate RSS leader Sunil Joshi murder case against Sadhvi Pragya. Watch video to know more.

MP govt to re-open RSS' Sunil Joshi murder case; more trouble to Sadhvi Pragya

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged the BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hatred in their hearts for his family, but he would continue to hug the PM as hate could only be defeated by love.

He also said the ongoing election was a fight between two ideologies- that of the Congress, and of the BJP and the RSS on the other.

Gandhi was addressing an election rally here for Congress candidate and folk singer, Prahlad Tipaniya, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Dewas seat.

"BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hatred for my family and our job is to remove it. He (Modi) speaks with hatred and anger about my father, my grandmother and my great grandfather, but I go and give them a 'jhappi' (hug). You are a prime minister and you must remove hatred and work with love," Gandhi said.

"They should know that hatred can only conquered by love," he added.

Referring to Congress' poll promise 'NYAY' scheme, he said it would revive the country's economy as it will increase people's purchasing power.

He also said the Congress will provide 22 lakh government jobs after coming to power at the Centre.

Gandhi said the agriculture loans of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, including the kin of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, have been waived by the Congress government in the state.

The loan waiver was promised by Gandhi before the MP Assembly elections last year and it is widely believed to have played a key role in the party's victory in the state after a gap of 15 years.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged the BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hatred in their hearts for his family, but he would continue to hug the PM as hate could only be defeated by love.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged the BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hatred in their hearts for his family, but he would continue to hug the PM as hate could only be defeated by love. He also said the ongoing election was a fight between two ideologies- that of the Congress, and of the BJP and the RSS on the other. Gandhi was addressing an election rally here for Congress candidate and folk singer, Prahlad Tipaniya, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Dewas seat. "BJP, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hatred for my family and our job is to remove it. He (Modi) speaks with hatred and anger about my father, my grandmother and my great grandfather, but I go and give them a 'jhappi' (hug). You are a prime minister and you must remove hatred and work with love," Gandhi said. "They should know that hatred can only conquered by love," he added. Referring to Congress' poll promise 'NYAY' scheme, he said it would revive the country's economy as it will increase people's purchasing power. He also said the Congress will provide 22 lakh government jobs after coming to power at the Centre. Gandhi said the agriculture loans of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, including the kin of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, have been waived by the Congress government in the state. The loan waiver was promised by Gandhi before the MP Assembly elections last year and it is widely believed to have played a key role in the party's victory in the state after a gap of 15 years.

BJP, RSS and Modi have hatred for my family: Rahul Gandhi

The Election Commission special observer, Ajay V Nayak Saturday said the situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago and had lead to the voters' demand for deployment of central forces in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The ruling Trinamool Congress demanded his immediate removal, claiming that Nayak has allegiance to the RSS and the BJP and is acting as per their orders.

The people of West Bengal have lost faith in the state police and therefore their demand for deployment of central forces at all polling booths has increased, Nayak, who is the former Bihar chief electoral officer, said.

The situation in Bihar has improved and less number of central forces are required there now, he told newsmen at the office of the West Bengal chief electoral officer here.

Nayak, a 1984-batch IAS officer, was recently given the responsibility to oversee the last five phases of polls in West Bengal.

"This situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago. During that time in Bihar total deployment of central forces at the booths was required. Now it is required in West Bengal as the people of West Bengal have lost faith in the state police and are seeking deployment of central forces at all the booths," he told reporters.

"I cannot understand that if people in Bihar were able to bring in a change in the atmosphere and situation there, then why this is not happening in West Bengal," Nayak said in the presence of state Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab.

He said that in the third phase of polling on April 23, 324 companies of central forces would be deployed to cover more than 92 per cent of the polling booths in five Lok Sabha constituencies.

Balurghat, Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur and Murshidabad parliamentary constituencies will go to the polls on April 23.

Nayak, however, sounded hopeful that the state may require less central force by next Parliamentary elections.

"In terms of election management, things are improving in West Bengal. So I am sure by the time of next Parliamentary elections it will not require this kind of central force deployment. I am sure about that," Nayak said.

In the first phase on April 11, central forces were deployed in 51 per cent of the booths in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar seats and 194 companies covered 80 per cent of the booths in Raiganj, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the second phase on April 18.

In the first phase, there were reports of booth capturing, smashing of EVMs and intimidation. Similar incidents were reported in the second phase from Chopra in Darjeeling constituency and also from Islampur in Raiganj constituency. There were also reports of damage to the vehicle of sitting CPI-M MP Mohammed Salim at Raiganj.

Nayak said no negligence was found after scrutiny of the pollings in the first phase and there will be no repoll in the constituencies where voting was held on the day.

The special observer, however, did not dismiss chances of repolling in some booths where polling was held in the second phase.

TMC secretary general Subrata Bakshi wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora demanding the immediate removal of Nayak to ensure free and fair polls in the state.

"The Election Commission after two phases of polling had said, barring a few incidents the polling was peaceful. Nayak's comments are highly misplaced. He is acting in a partisan manner with pre-conceived notions to destabilise elections in the state and create a fear psychosis among voters," Bakshi said in the letter.

Nayak has political and organisational allegiance to the RSS and is connected to BJP leaders. His statements clearly indicate that he has acted as per instructions of his political bosses, he said.

"It is therefore requested to immediately recall him or cancel his appointment as a special observer in the state of West Bengal to ensure free and fair elections," Bakshi said.

The EC has appointed Vivek Dubey as the special police observer for the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, the EC has transferred Malda district Superintendent of Police Arnab Ghosh and has brought in the commanding officer of the second battalion of state armed police Ajoy Prasad in his place.

Sources said Ghosh, who was reportedly close to the Trinamool Congress administration, was under the EC scanner.

The state BJP had urged the EC to remove Ghosh a few days ago.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Election Commission special observer, Ajay V Nayak Saturday said the situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago and had lead to the voters' demand for deployment of central forces in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission special observer, Ajay V Nayak Saturday said the situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago and had lead to the voters' demand for deployment of central forces in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The ruling Trinamool Congress demanded his immediate removal, claiming that Nayak has allegiance to the RSS and the BJP and is acting as per their orders. The people of West Bengal have lost faith in the state police and therefore their demand for deployment of central forces at all polling booths has increased, Nayak, who is the former Bihar chief electoral officer, said. The situation in Bihar has improved and less number of central forces are required there now, he told newsmen at the office of the West Bengal chief electoral officer here. Nayak, a 1984-batch IAS officer, was recently given the responsibility to oversee the last five phases of polls in West Bengal. "This situation in West Bengal is similar to what it was in Bihar around 10 to 15 years ago. During that time in Bihar total deployment of central forces at the booths was required. Now it is required in West Bengal as the people of West Bengal have lost faith in the state police and are seeking deployment of central forces at all the booths," he told reporters. "I cannot understand that if people in Bihar were able to bring in a change in the atmosphere and situation there, then why this is not happening in West Bengal," Nayak said in the presence of state Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab. He said that in the third phase of polling on April 23, 324 companies of central forces would be deployed to cover more than 92 per cent of the polling booths in five Lok Sabha constituencies. Balurghat, Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur and Murshidabad parliamentary constituencies will go to the polls on April 23. Nayak, however, sounded hopeful that the state may require less central force by next Parliamentary elections. "In terms of election management, things are improving in West Bengal. So I am sure by the time of next Parliamentary elections it will not require this kind of central force deployment. I am sure about that," Nayak said. In the first phase on April 11, central forces were deployed in 51 per cent of the booths in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar seats and 194 companies covered 80 per cent of the booths in Raiganj, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the second phase on April 18. In the first phase, there were reports of booth capturing, smashing of EVMs and intimidation. Similar incidents were reported in the second phase from Chopra in Darjeeling constituency and also from Islampur in Raiganj constituency. There were also reports of damage to the vehicle of sitting CPI-M MP Mohammed Salim at Raiganj. Nayak said no negligence was found after scrutiny of the pollings in the first phase and there will be no repoll in the constituencies where voting was held on the day. The special observer, however, did not dismiss chances of repolling in some booths where polling was held in the second phase. TMC secretary general Subrata Bakshi wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora demanding the immediate removal of Nayak to ensure free and fair polls in the state. "The Election Commission after two phases of polling had said, barring a few incidents the polling was peaceful. Nayak's comments are highly misplaced. He is acting in a partisan manner with pre-conceived notions to destabilise elections in the state and create a fear psychosis among voters," Bakshi said in the letter. Nayak has political and organisational allegiance to the RSS and is connected to BJP leaders. His statements clearly indicate that he has acted as per instructions of his political bosses, he said. "It is therefore requested to immediately recall him or cancel his appointment as a special observer in the state of West Bengal to ensure free and fair elections," Bakshi said. The EC has appointed Vivek Dubey as the special police observer for the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. Meanwhile, the EC has transferred Malda district Superintendent of Police Arnab Ghosh and has brought in the commanding officer of the second battalion of state armed police Ajoy Prasad in his place. Sources said Ghosh, who was reportedly close to the Trinamool Congress administration, was under the EC scanner. The state BJP had urged the EC to remove Ghosh a few days ago.

Situation in Bengal like Bihar 15 years ago: Election Commission special observer; TMC demands his removal

Curfew remained in force in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth day on Saturday after an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rss-worker-chandrakant-sharma-pso-killed-by-terrorists-in-jammu-and-kashmir-curfew-imposed-209047">RSS leader was shot dead</a> by militants in the communally-sensitive region earlier this week, officials said.

Internet services continued to be suspended as a precautionary measure in the district, but it was restored in nearby Doda and Ramban districts on Friday night, the officials said.

"Curfew is being strictly implemented in the town and adjoining areas to maintain law and order," Kishtwar District Development Commissioner A S Rana told PTI.

Army columns are assisting the CRPF and the police, the official said.

The curfew was promulgated in the town and adjoining areas on Tuesday after RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard was shot dead by militants at a health centre.

Minor protests were reported from some interior localities, but the situation remained well under control, the officials said.

Some people, who were allowed to visit temples in the interior localities for the Ram Navami festival, raised slogans and later dispersed off peacefully, the officials said.

There was no violation of curfew reported from anywhere, the officials said.

"The situation will be reviewed later in the day to take a decision about the relaxation for the day," Rana said.

The curfew was relaxed in a phased manner, for the first time since its imposition, on Friday evening.

Police had picked up several overground workers for interrogation in connection with the incident and massive house-to-house searches were also going on.

Curfew remained in force in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth day on Saturday after an RSS leader was shot dead by militants in the communally-sensitive region earlier this week, officials said.

Curfew remained in force in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir for the fifth day on Saturday after an RSS leader was shot dead by militants in the communally-sensitive region earlier this week, officials said. Internet services continued to be suspended as a precautionary measure in the district, but it was restored in nearby Doda and Ramban districts on Friday night, the officials said. "Curfew is being strictly implemented in the town and adjoining areas to maintain law and order," Kishtwar District Development Commissioner A S Rana told PTI. Army columns are assisting the CRPF and the police, the official said. The curfew was promulgated in the town and adjoining areas on Tuesday after RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard was shot dead by militants at a health centre. Minor protests were reported from some interior localities, but the situation remained well under control, the officials said. Some people, who were allowed to visit temples in the interior localities for the Ram Navami festival, raised slogans and later dispersed off peacefully, the officials said. There was no violation of curfew reported from anywhere, the officials said. "The situation will be reviewed later in the day to take a decision about the relaxation for the day," Rana said. The curfew was relaxed in a phased manner, for the first time since its imposition, on Friday evening. Police had picked up several overground workers for interrogation in connection with the incident and massive house-to-house searches were also going on.

J&K: Curfew continues in Kishtwar town for fifth day

Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha Election 2019 began at 7 am on Thursday, April 11.Ninety-one constituencies spread across 18 states and two union territories will vote in this initial phase. Watch video to know more.

Lok Sabha election 2019: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat casts his vote in Nagpur

A Jammu and Kashmir policeman was killed during an attack on RSS leader Chandakant in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town. The policeman worked as the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Chandrakant who was attacked inside the hospital.

Chandrakant, who works as a medical assistant, suffered injuries in the attack, officials said.

According to eyewitnesses, a man carrying a gun barged into the hospital and snatched the PSO's weapon. They attempted to fire at the RSS leader. In the ensuing scuffle, the policeman was shot dead while the RSS leader received minor injuries.

Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar district&nbsp;after the incident. The police are investigating the case.

A Jammu and Kashmir policeman was killed during an attack on RSS leader Chandakant in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town. The policeman worked as the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Chandrakant who was attacked inside the hospital.

A Jammu and Kashmir policeman was killed during an attack on RSS leader Chandakant in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town. The policeman worked as the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Chandrakant who was attacked inside the hospital. Chandrakant, who works as a medical assistant, suffered injuries in the attack, officials said. According to eyewitnesses, a man carrying a gun barged into the hospital and snatched the PSO's weapon. They attempted to fire at the RSS leader. In the ensuing scuffle, the policeman was shot dead while the RSS leader received minor injuries. Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar district after the incident. The police are investigating the case.

Policeman killed in attack on RSS leader in J&K's Kishtwar

From being an Ayurveda practitioner to being the Goa chief minister, 46-year-old Pramod Sawant has come a long way.

The two-time MLA from Sankhalim in North Goa, Sawant, who was Speaker of the state Assembly, is a dedicated RSS worker.

The politician, recently seen in the RSS uniform at a Sangh event, was sworn in as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjps-pramod-sawant-takes-oath-as-goa-chief-minister-says-will-never-be-able-to-do-as-much-as-parrikar-204182">new chief minister of Goa in the wee hours of Tuesday</a> following Manohar Parrikar's death.

His elevation to the top post in the coastal state followed hectic parleys between the BJP and its alliance partners.

Sawant's political career began in the BJP as a youth leader. A staunch Parrikar supporter, he had worked closely with the late leader.

He won the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections from North Goa's Sankhalim constituency, which used to be a Congress stronghold.

He was among the few BJP MLAs who got re-elected in their constituencies during the state polls two years ago when the party managed to win only 13 seats as compared to&nbsp;21 in the 2012 elections.

When Parrikar cobbled up an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents in 2017 despite the Congress being the single largest party, Sawant was elected the Assembly Speaker.

He is a former chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, a special purpose vehicle set up by Parrikar to take up various infrastructure works in the coastal state.

Sawant holds a Bachelor's Degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from Ganga Education Society's Ayurvedic College in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.

His wife Sulakshana heads the BJP Mahila Morcha in Goa.&nbsp;

From being an Ayurveda practitioner to being the Goa chief minister, 46-year-old Pramod Sawant has come a long way. The two-time MLA from Sankhalim in North Goa, Sawant, who was Speaker of the state Assembly, is a dedicated RSS worker.

From being an Ayurveda practitioner to being the Goa chief minister, 46-year-old Pramod Sawant has come a long way. The two-time MLA from Sankhalim in North Goa, Sawant, who was Speaker of the state Assembly, is a dedicated RSS worker. The politician, recently seen in the RSS uniform at a Sangh event, was sworn in as the new chief minister of Goa in the wee hours of Tuesday following Manohar Parrikar's death. His elevation to the top post in the coastal state followed hectic parleys between the BJP and its alliance partners. Sawant's political career began in the BJP as a youth leader. A staunch Parrikar supporter, he had worked closely with the late leader. He won the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections from North Goa's Sankhalim constituency, which used to be a Congress stronghold. He was among the few BJP MLAs who got re-elected in their constituencies during the state polls two years ago when the party managed to win only 13 seats as compared to 21 in the 2012 elections. When Parrikar cobbled up an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents in 2017 despite the Congress being the single largest party, Sawant was elected the Assembly Speaker. He is a former chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, a special purpose vehicle set up by Parrikar to take up various infrastructure works in the coastal state. Sawant holds a Bachelor's Degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from Ganga Education Society's Ayurvedic College in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. His wife Sulakshana heads the BJP Mahila Morcha in Goa.

Pramod Sawant, Parrikar loyalist and RSS man, rises to top as Goa CM

Union minister Nitin Gadkari Sunday said neither does he have any aspirations nor the RSS any designs to project him as a prime ministerial candidate and asserted that making "calculation" has never been his forte in politics or work.

Amid speculations that he could be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in case of a fractured mandate in the upcoming general elections, the senior party leader said he was not in the race and stressed that "tireless work" was his mantra.

"I have not done any calculation, never set targets -- neither in politics nor in work. Mai to chala jidhar chale rasta (I follow the path wherever it leads). Jo kaam dikha karta gaya (Accomplished whatever is assigned to me). Believe in doing the best for the country," Gadkari told PTI in an interview.

Seeking to rubbish speculations that he could be the "Prime Minister in the making", the senior minister made it clear that "neither there is anything like this in my mind nor RSS has any such thing. The nation comes supreme for us.

"I do not see dreams, neither I go to anyone nor I do any lobbying. I am not in this race. &nbsp;I'm telling you from my heart," the minister at the helm of key infrastructure ministries of the Narendra Modi government said.

Talking further about the speculations, Gadkari, also a former BJP chief, said that he does not know what people are thinking but that he has "nothing to do with it, not even remotely".

Gadkari also asserted that he and his party stood "solidly behind Modiji who is doing very good work".

"Given what work we have done, I feel we will get more seats than the last time under Modiji," he said and termed the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of Opposition parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as 'Mahamilawat' (high adulteration).

Earlier this month, he termed speculations about him being in the race for prime minister as "mungeri lal ke haseen sapne" (day dreaming). On being a favourite with the Opposition members too, Gadkari remarked that whoever came to him, he believed in helping them with a positive attitude.

"Whatever maximum I can do I try," he added.

Last month in the Lok Sabha, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with other Congress members appreciated Gadkari for the "wonderful" work he has been doing in improving the country's infrastructure.

Describing himself as a "workaholic, Gadkari said massive work has been done by the central government in various sectors, including infrastructure that has seen projects worth over Rs 15 lakh crore.

On whether he felt some tasks could not be completed in the current tenure, Gadkari said there were no regrets as "whatever was there worth working I did. No one is perfect and no one should think he is perfect. One should work relentlessly".

Gadkari is in charge of the road transport and highways; shipping; and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation ministries.

While viewing politics as a "game of compulsions, limitations and contradictions", the BJP heavyweight from Maharashtra said that anything can happen in politics and cricket.

He exuded confidence that BJP was going to get a thumping majority and increase its seats tally in the upcoming general elections.

Listing out various initiatives of the government, he said the national health insurance scheme has benefited 10 crore families, 1.5 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and 6 crore people have got gas cylinders and that the number would go up to 12 crore.

"The poor have got rid of 'chulha and koyla' (traditional stove and coal). Electricity has reached (people) under Ujjwala Yojana" and many obsolete legislations have either been done away with or amended, he emphasised.&nbsp;

Gadkari runs 1,100 Ekal Vidyalayas in extremist-hit areas of Maharashtra. These schools have 21,000 students and 950 teachers. Besides, he runs "four hospitals on wheels" and has helped in getting artificial limbs from London and Germany for 900 people.

Further, 8,000 heart operations have been done and 1.5 lakh women have been screened with advanced machines brought from the US for breast cancer. Around 3,000 women detected with cancer have been given treatment, he said.

"I (also) do a lot of work in biofuel, organic farming, and work much for villagers especially poor farmers. Good days are coming in biofuel. Apart from my departments, I have done much in other things of my liking. Have got CNG kits for tractors from Poland and using it in one tractor will save Rs 60,000 in a year," the minister said.

A strong supporter of biofuels, Gadkari said biofuel has also been derived from bamboo and is being tested at the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.

There are also plans for large scale bamboo plantation as part of efforts to produce biofuel.

"We want to work for tribals and if bio-aviation fuel can be derived from these technologies in tribal areas, we can save Rs 30,000 crore," he said, adding that plans are on the anvil to increase the country's ethanol economy from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore.

Regarding works to clean Ganga, Gadkari said during his recent visit for 'Kumbh snan' people told him that for the first time in 50 years they found the river "nirmal and aviral" (pure and with the continuous flow).

Union minister Nitin Gadkari Sunday said neither does he have any aspirations nor the RSS any designs to project him as a prime ministerial candidate and asserted that making "calculation" has never been his forte in politics or work.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari Sunday said neither does he have any aspirations nor the RSS any designs to project him as a prime ministerial candidate and asserted that making "calculation" has never been his forte in politics or work. Amid speculations that he could be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in case of a fractured mandate in the upcoming general elections, the senior party leader said he was not in the race and stressed that "tireless work" was his mantra. "I have not done any calculation, never set targets -- neither in politics nor in work. Mai to chala jidhar chale rasta (I follow the path wherever it leads). Jo kaam dikha karta gaya (Accomplished whatever is assigned to me). Believe in doing the best for the country," Gadkari told PTI in an interview. Seeking to rubbish speculations that he could be the "Prime Minister in the making", the senior minister made it clear that "neither there is anything like this in my mind nor RSS has any such thing. The nation comes supreme for us. "I do not see dreams, neither I go to anyone nor I do any lobbying. I am not in this race. I'm telling you from my heart," the minister at the helm of key infrastructure ministries of the Narendra Modi government said. Talking further about the speculations, Gadkari, also a former BJP chief, said that he does not know what people are thinking but that he has "nothing to do with it, not even remotely". Gadkari also asserted that he and his party stood "solidly behind Modiji who is doing very good work". "Given what work we have done, I feel we will get more seats than the last time under Modiji," he said and termed the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of Opposition parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as 'Mahamilawat' (high adulteration). Earlier this month, he termed speculations about him being in the race for prime minister as "mungeri lal ke haseen sapne" (day dreaming). On being a favourite with the Opposition members too, Gadkari remarked that whoever came to him, he believed in helping them with a positive attitude. "Whatever maximum I can do I try," he added. Last month in the Lok Sabha, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with other Congress members appreciated Gadkari for the "wonderful" work he has been doing in improving the country's infrastructure. Describing himself as a "workaholic, Gadkari said massive work has been done by the central government in various sectors, including infrastructure that has seen projects worth over Rs 15 lakh crore. On whether he felt some tasks could not be completed in the current tenure, Gadkari said there were no regrets as "whatever was there worth working I did. No one is perfect and no one should think he is perfect. One should work relentlessly". Gadkari is in charge of the road transport and highways; shipping; and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation ministries. While viewing politics as a "game of compulsions, limitations and contradictions", the BJP heavyweight from Maharashtra said that anything can happen in politics and cricket. He exuded confidence that BJP was going to get a thumping majority and increase its seats tally in the upcoming general elections. Listing out various initiatives of the government, he said the national health insurance scheme has benefited 10 crore families, 1.5 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and 6 crore people have got gas cylinders and that the number would go up to 12 crore. "The poor have got rid of 'chulha and koyla' (traditional stove and coal). Electricity has reached (people) under Ujjwala Yojana" and many obsolete legislations have either been done away with or amended, he emphasised. Gadkari runs 1,100 Ekal Vidyalayas in extremist-hit areas of Maharashtra. These schools have 21,000 students and 950 teachers. Besides, he runs "four hospitals on wheels" and has helped in getting artificial limbs from London and Germany for 900 people. Further, 8,000 heart operations have been done and 1.5 lakh women have been screened with advanced machines brought from the US for breast cancer. Around 3,000 women detected with cancer have been given treatment, he said. "I (also) do a lot of work in biofuel, organic farming, and work much for villagers especially poor farmers. Good days are coming in biofuel. Apart from my departments, I have done much in other things of my liking. Have got CNG kits for tractors from Poland and using it in one tractor will save Rs 60,000 in a year," the minister said. A strong supporter of biofuels, Gadkari said biofuel has also been derived from bamboo and is being tested at the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. There are also plans for large scale bamboo plantation as part of efforts to produce biofuel. "We want to work for tribals and if bio-aviation fuel can be derived from these technologies in tribal areas, we can save Rs 30,000 crore," he said, adding that plans are on the anvil to increase the country's ethanol economy from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore. Regarding works to clean Ganga, Gadkari said during his recent visit for 'Kumbh snan' people told him that for the first time in 50 years they found the river "nirmal and aviral" (pure and with the continuous flow).

Neither do I have aspirations nor RSS any designs to make me PM candidate, says Nitin Gadkari

The highest decision-making body of RSS, Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), started its three-day long deliberation session in Gwalior on Friday. What is surprising is that the topmost body will not discuss electoral politics but the&nbsp;swayamsevaks will create awareness in the society about casting their votes.&nbsp;

This Lok Sabha election is considered very important for the BJP because it has decided to take on the opposition on core issues like nationalism and the Ram temple.&nbsp;

ABPS is the highest decision-making body which meets once a year and a representative is chosen on every 2,000 swayamsevak. The meeting is important because it provides a road-map to the entire organization.

This time around, the RSS only intends to pass a resolution on the Sabarimala issue and the promotion of family values and challenges in contemporary India. But RSS did not refrain from espousing its position on the Ayodhya issue this time.

In a strongly worded statement, published in part of the annual report, the RSS expressed strong reservation on the Ram Janambhomi case.

In its annual report, the RSS stated, "In Ram Janambhomi case, instead of accelerating the judicial process to end the long-drawn dispute, the Supreme Court has taken a surprising stand. That the Supreme Court should find no priority for the sensitive subject associated with the deep faith of Hindu society is beyond understanding. We are experiencing that Hindus are constantly being neglected. While having full respect in the judicial system we would like to say emphatically that the judgment on the dispute must expedite and remove the obstacles in constructing a grand Ram temple."

The RSS was equally scathing on the top court when it came to the Sabarimala issue. Its statement read, "Reverence and values are the pivots of the Hindu society. These accepted norms and traditions guide social behaviour. Hence, it is not just the legal process but social tradition and acceptance which are also important. The Supreme Court in the Sabarimala case, without taking into consideration all relevant entities and customs, delivered a judgement even without the consideration of the different opinion of the lone woman member of the bench.”

The RSS also addressed the issue of terrorism in its report saying, "The external forces, with the help of some anti-national internal elements, are giving shape to violent incidents. The attack on the Army is very tragic especially the attack in Pulwama. Nobody should take our tolerance as a sign of weakness.” The RSS said that the current government must take strong action against the anti-national elements, adding that it had, indeed, done praiseworthy work in this direction.

RSS Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya said that to improve the outreach of the organisation, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the six sah sarkaryavahs of the organisation have taken meetings with 12,000 swayamsevaks in 43 prants. It was also noted that over 1 lakh youth, ageing between 20-35 years, joined the organisation in a year’s time.&nbsp;

It was also noted that the RSS has reached 88 per cent of the blocks in the country through its 63,637 shakhas. Its work expanded to 54,472 mandals and the number of daily RSS shakhas increased to 59,266. The meeting focused on the issue of Sabarimala and challenges to the family system in contemporary India.

The highest decision-making body of RSS, Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), started its three-day long deliberation session in Gwalior on Friday. What is surprising is that the topmost body will not discuss electoral politics but the swayamsevaks will create awareness in the society about casting their votes.

The highest decision-making body of RSS, Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), started its three-day long deliberation session in Gwalior on Friday. What is surprising is that the topmost body will not discuss electoral politics but the swayamsevaks will create awareness in the society about casting their votes. This Lok Sabha election is considered very important for the BJP because it has decided to take on the opposition on core issues like nationalism and the Ram temple. ABPS is the highest decision-making body which meets once a year and a representative is chosen on every 2,000 swayamsevak. The meeting is important because it provides a road-map to the entire organization. This time around, the RSS only intends to pass a resolution on the Sabarimala issue and the promotion of family values and challenges in contemporary India. But RSS did not refrain from espousing its position on the Ayodhya issue this time. In a strongly worded statement, published in part of the annual report, the RSS expressed strong reservation on the Ram Janambhomi case. In its annual report, the RSS stated, "In Ram Janambhomi case, instead of accelerating the judicial process to end the long-drawn dispute, the Supreme Court has taken a surprising stand. That the Supreme Court should find no priority for the sensitive subject associated with the deep faith of Hindu society is beyond understanding. We are experiencing that Hindus are constantly being neglected. While having full respect in the judicial system we would like to say emphatically that the judgment on the dispute must expedite and remove the obstacles in constructing a grand Ram temple." The RSS was equally scathing on the top court when it came to the Sabarimala issue. Its statement read, "Reverence and values are the pivots of the Hindu society. These accepted norms and traditions guide social behaviour. Hence, it is not just the legal process but social tradition and acceptance which are also important. The Supreme Court in the Sabarimala case, without taking into consideration all relevant entities and customs, delivered a judgement even without the consideration of the different opinion of the lone woman member of the bench.” The RSS also addressed the issue of terrorism in its report saying, "The external forces, with the help of some anti-national internal elements, are giving shape to violent incidents. The attack on the Army is very tragic especially the attack in Pulwama. Nobody should take our tolerance as a sign of weakness.” The RSS said that the current government must take strong action against the anti-national elements, adding that it had, indeed, done praiseworthy work in this direction. RSS Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya said that to improve the outreach of the organisation, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the six sah sarkaryavahs of the organisation have taken meetings with 12,000 swayamsevaks in 43 prants. It was also noted that over 1 lakh youth, ageing between 20-35 years, joined the organisation in a year’s time. It was also noted that the RSS has reached 88 per cent of the blocks in the country through its 63,637 shakhas. Its work expanded to 54,472 mandals and the number of daily RSS shakhas increased to 59,266. The meeting focused on the issue of Sabarimala and challenges to the family system in contemporary India.

Back to basics: RSS highest decision-making body refrains from discussing Lok Sabha polls

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which&nbsp;outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS&nbsp;Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies.

Though the book had the scope to go into the details of important decisions which RSS took, however, the author has refrained from doing so. The basic takeaway from the book is that RSS is not as rigid in its dogma as it comes across from outside.

Last year, journalists were taken by surprise when Mohan Bhagwat, in a press conference, said that certain portions from&nbsp;M S Golwalkar's (the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS) book - 'A Bunch of Thoughts', have been edited. He said that eternal thoughts have been retained and those&nbsp;found to be outdated and out of context have been removed. At that&nbsp;time, I thought that it is a paradigm shift but that was not the case, which I discovered after reading Arun Anand's book.

The author has published a speech of Balasaheb Deoras (the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS), given on May 8, 1974 in Pune, wherein in the context of religion and outdated practices, Deoras spoke about&nbsp;eternal and changeable thoughts. In his speech, he categorically stated that organisation can do away with old and out of context practices as they have become irrelevant.&nbsp;

It demonstrates that change may come slow to RSS, but it is not immune to it.&nbsp;It is for this reason, the RSS has repositioned itself in the context of minorities and softened its ethnocultural nationalism wherever it is required. The example, in this case, is North East where RSS did not let beef become an issue in Nagaland and Meghalaya elections. RSS has also softened its position on multiple issues keeping the political&nbsp;climate in mind. 
 
The example in the case could be putting Ayodhya issue to sleep when Vajpayee ran a coalition government.

It is for this reason many people fail to fathom RSS’s deep inroads in ST, SC and OBC sections of the society.

Similarly, the book dwells into individual contributions made by the RSS heads during their respective tenures. For example, MS Golwalkar’s thrust on pracharak system and cow to be used as a symbol of a cultural and political entity or a massive expansion of RSS under Deoras. 
 
<img alt="The Saffron Surge" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1019901-bd58-4668-ad7f-0178ab5d0f26" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/rss_0.jpeg" />

The book also highlights the role of K S Sudarshan (the fifth Sarsanghchalak of RSS) taking up the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh and drawing a line between refugees and illegal immigrants which the current government has incorporated in the bill which is yet to be passed by Parliament.

The book introduces the reader to thoughts and ideas of various RSS heads which allowed the organisation to grow in multiple directions.

What the book did not do and could have done was - covering important political developments which people remember. For example, the formation of anti-Congress governments in 1967, formation of Janata Party government in 1977 and its view of VP Singh government. Though RSS says that it has never been directly into politics, but the views espoused by the heads have always turned into policy issues for BJP.

The book could have gone into details of Sudarshan’s view on Vajpayee and Advani when he wanted them to make a way for the younger generation. These issues would have cast greater light on the important role which RSS chiefs have played all along. The author should have also contextualised the riots and why a certain section was at the receiving end.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Today, a lot of people attribute the success of harnessing diaspora to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but after reading the book you understand that it is a result of cumulative efforts put in by respective RSS chiefs.

M S Golwalkar organised a Global Hindu Convention in 1966 at Prayag. &nbsp;His initiative was further carried forward by Dr. Rajendra Singh aka Rajju bhaiya who became the first RSS chief to extensively travel outside the country. Certain words which have become prominent in the tenure of BJP can also be traced back to some RSS chiefs. For example, Rajju bhaiya used the word &nbsp;‘Assertive Hindu’ to describe the organisation.

The thrust towards Swadeshi science received a special push when Sudarshan officiated as the head, are one of the few highlights of the book which shows a deep umbilical connection of BJP with RSS. Arun has also traced the origin of the relationship between RSS and BJP by going back to the time and describing the way Bharatiya Jana Sangh received help from RSS when Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was at helms of affair. At this point of time, Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nana Ji Deshmukh got associated with the BJS. 
&nbsp; 
His book also details the formation of RSS during colonial India. He, very deftly, describes what its founder Dr. Hedgewar did but has failed to look into what influenced him to come up with the idea of cultural ethnonationalism. This would have made the book interesting. For an example, It is well known as to who and what influenced Gandhi and Nehru but we do not get a glimpse of the mental map of almost all the Sarsanghchalaks in the book.

Like it or not, RSS is here to stay in India, but its role and perception has changed.

It claims to be a cultural organisation but people at large now believe, and which is true, that RSS has turned into a mean electoral machine by investing itself heavily in the civil society issues.

It is here the Congress has failed, and hence, declined rapidly in many areas. RSS is a project to change the contours of the Hindu society, but India is a multicultural country and, in future, RSS may again have to make a change in its functioning and ideology as per the emerging reality if it wants to evolve and survive.

Lastly, RSS played an important role in making Vajpayee and Modi the Prime Ministers but its Hindutva politics has limits. Vajpayee became PM because of coalition vote and Modi because aspirational India came along the RSS-BJP combine. Hindutva vote alone is not enough for RSS to keep it political project floating and that is the hard reality.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies.

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies. Though the book had the scope to go into the details of important decisions which RSS took, however, the author has refrained from doing so. The basic takeaway from the book is that RSS is not as rigid in its dogma as it comes across from outside. Last year, journalists were taken by surprise when Mohan Bhagwat, in a press conference, said that certain portions from M S Golwalkar's (the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS) book - 'A Bunch of Thoughts', have been edited. He said that eternal thoughts have been retained and those found to be outdated and out of context have been removed. At that time, I thought that it is a paradigm shift but that was not the case, which I discovered after reading Arun Anand's book. The author has published a speech of Balasaheb Deoras (the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS), given on May 8, 1974 in Pune, wherein in the context of religion and outdated practices, Deoras spoke about eternal and changeable thoughts. In his speech, he categorically stated that organisation can do away with old and out of context practices as they have become irrelevant. It demonstrates that change may come slow to RSS, but it is not immune to it. It is for this reason, the RSS has repositioned itself in the context of minorities and softened its ethnocultural nationalism wherever it is required. The example, in this case, is North East where RSS did not let beef become an issue in Nagaland and Meghalaya elections. RSS has also softened its position on multiple issues keeping the political climate in mind. The example in the case could be putting Ayodhya issue to sleep when Vajpayee ran a coalition government. It is for this reason many people fail to fathom RSS’s deep inroads in ST, SC and OBC sections of the society. Similarly, the book dwells into individual contributions made by the RSS heads during their respective tenures. For example, MS Golwalkar’s thrust on pracharak system and cow to be used as a symbol of a cultural and political entity or a massive expansion of RSS under Deoras. The book also highlights the role of K S Sudarshan (the fifth Sarsanghchalak of RSS) taking up the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh and drawing a line between refugees and illegal immigrants which the current government has incorporated in the bill which is yet to be passed by Parliament. The book introduces the reader to thoughts and ideas of various RSS heads which allowed the organisation to grow in multiple directions. What the book did not do and could have done was - covering important political developments which people remember. For example, the formation of anti-Congress governments in 1967, formation of Janata Party government in 1977 and its view of VP Singh government. Though RSS says that it has never been directly into politics, but the views espoused by the heads have always turned into policy issues for BJP. The book could have gone into details of Sudarshan’s view on Vajpayee and Advani when he wanted them to make a way for the younger generation. These issues would have cast greater light on the important role which RSS chiefs have played all along. The author should have also contextualised the riots and why a certain section was at the receiving end. Today, a lot of people attribute the success of harnessing diaspora to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but after reading the book you understand that it is a result of cumulative efforts put in by respective RSS chiefs. M S Golwalkar organised a Global Hindu Convention in 1966 at Prayag. His initiative was further carried forward by Dr. Rajendra Singh aka Rajju bhaiya who became the first RSS chief to extensively travel outside the country. Certain words which have become prominent in the tenure of BJP can also be traced back to some RSS chiefs. For example, Rajju bhaiya used the word ‘Assertive Hindu’ to describe the organisation. The thrust towards Swadeshi science received a special push when Sudarshan officiated as the head, are one of the few highlights of the book which shows a deep umbilical connection of BJP with RSS. Arun has also traced the origin of the relationship between RSS and BJP by going back to the time and describing the way Bharatiya Jana Sangh received help from RSS when Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was at helms of affair. At this point of time, Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nana Ji Deshmukh got associated with the BJS. His book also details the formation of RSS during colonial India. He, very deftly, describes what its founder Dr. Hedgewar did but has failed to look into what influenced him to come up with the idea of cultural ethnonationalism. This would have made the book interesting. For an example, It is well known as to who and what influenced Gandhi and Nehru but we do not get a glimpse of the mental map of almost all the Sarsanghchalaks in the book. Like it or not, RSS is here to stay in India, but its role and perception has changed. It claims to be a cultural organisation but people at large now believe, and which is true, that RSS has turned into a mean electoral machine by investing itself heavily in the civil society issues. It is here the Congress has failed, and hence, declined rapidly in many areas. RSS is a project to change the contours of the Hindu society, but India is a multicultural country and, in future, RSS may again have to make a change in its functioning and ideology as per the emerging reality if it wants to evolve and survive. Lastly, RSS played an important role in making Vajpayee and Modi the Prime Ministers but its Hindutva politics has limits. Vajpayee became PM because of coalition vote and Modi because aspirational India came along the RSS-BJP combine. Hindutva vote alone is not enough for RSS to keep it political project floating and that is the hard reality. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Book review: 'The Saffron Surge' - RSS is not immune to the changing world but needs to do more

RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations as it has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said Tuesday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the New Academic Complex and a gurukulam named after late RSS sarsanghchalak Golwalkar guruji at Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya (KKSV) at Ramtek near here, the governor said the journey of the Sangh has been spectacular as well as tough.

M S Golwalkar, popularly known as guruji, was the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

"The sapling planted by (RSS founder) Dr KB Hedgewar in the form of Sangh has grown into a large banyan tree having its branches all over the world," an official release quoted Rao as saying.

"This journey (of RSS) has been both spectacular and tough. The toughest challenge to the Sangh came soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, when it was banned by the government on February 4, 1948," he said.

Rao said Golwalkar played a crucial role and gave the call for a nationwide satyagraha from the prison.

"'Guruji" challenged the government to prove the charges against the RSS or lift the ban, which was finally lifted on July 12, 1949 thanks to persistent efforts of Golwalkar," he said.

Rao further said, "contrary to what the opponents of the Sangh say, the RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations. RSS has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith and religion".

The governor said the RSS remembers saints, social reformers and patriots from various parts of the country in its morning prayer, which underlines "inclusiveness" of Sangh.

"In order to reclaim our glory as a 'Vishwa Guru', we need an education system that will be Indian and that will encourage the spirit of enquiry, innovation and enterprise," he said.&nbsp;

RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations as it has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said Tuesday.

RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations as it has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the New Academic Complex and a gurukulam named after late RSS sarsanghchalak Golwalkar guruji at Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya (KKSV) at Ramtek near here, the governor said the journey of the Sangh has been spectacular as well as tough. M S Golwalkar, popularly known as guruji, was the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). "The sapling planted by (RSS founder) Dr KB Hedgewar in the form of Sangh has grown into a large banyan tree having its branches all over the world," an official release quoted Rao as saying. "This journey (of RSS) has been both spectacular and tough. The toughest challenge to the Sangh came soon after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, when it was banned by the government on February 4, 1948," he said. Rao said Golwalkar played a crucial role and gave the call for a nationwide satyagraha from the prison. "'Guruji" challenged the government to prove the charges against the RSS or lift the ban, which was finally lifted on July 12, 1949 thanks to persistent efforts of Golwalkar," he said. Rao further said, "contrary to what the opponents of the Sangh say, the RSS is one of the most secular and inclusive organisations. RSS has always respected the right of individuals to practice their own faith and religion". The governor said the RSS remembers saints, social reformers and patriots from various parts of the country in its morning prayer, which underlines "inclusiveness" of Sangh. "In order to reclaim our glory as a 'Vishwa Guru', we need an education system that will be Indian and that will encourage the spirit of enquiry, innovation and enterprise," he said.

RSS most secular and inclusive organisation: Maharashtra governor

Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacks NDA govt

RSS general secretary Bhaiya Ji Joshi has again brought the Ayodhya temple issue to the fore.

Weeks after the issue receded from the news headlines, he told the press that the Ram temple should be built before the next Kumbh, which is set six years from now. Asked about the time gap, he said, ”if construction starts immediately, then the temple would be ready by 2025.”

The case relating to the Ram temple is still pending in the Supreme Court, which has not bowed to the demand of political parties for day-to-day hearings on the matter.

After its defeat in three north Indian states in recent elections, the BJP has resurrected Ayodhya issue -- which is sub judice -- with much fanfare. It is the clamour for the temple that had pitchforked the BJP to India's political centre-stage in the 1990s.

By 1998, the issue had fizzled out and during the general election of 2014, the Ram temple was not even a core campaign issue for BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to a news agency had scotched speculation of immediate legislative intervention to hasten the building of the Ram temple. He had said that the government will await the supreme court's verdict. As of now, a makeshift structure exists where the deity of Lord Ram stands.

Despite the prime minister's categorical assertion, the RSS and cadres of the BJP have taken a contrarian position with a view to improving their prospects in the coming general election.

In the absence of any wave, the BJP is expected to face strong anti-incumbency in Hindi heartland of the country.

Insiders have told WION that Ram Mandir is an issue which binds BJP workers together. However, no construction can take place until the Supreme Court gives its verdict in the long-pending case. The RSS and seers inclined towards BKP want to keep the issue alive till the parliamentary elections.

RSS general secretary Bhaiya Ji Joshi has again brought the Ayodhya temple issue to the fore. Weeks after the issue receded from the news headlines, he told the press that the Ram temple should be built before the next Kumbh, which is set six years from now.

RSS general secretary Bhaiya Ji Joshi has again brought the Ayodhya temple issue to the fore. Weeks after the issue receded from the news headlines, he told the press that the Ram temple should be built before the next Kumbh, which is set six years from now. Asked about the time gap, he said, ”if construction starts immediately, then the temple would be ready by 2025.” The case relating to the Ram temple is still pending in the Supreme Court, which has not bowed to the demand of political parties for day-to-day hearings on the matter. After its defeat in three north Indian states in recent elections, the BJP has resurrected Ayodhya issue -- which is sub judice -- with much fanfare. It is the clamour for the temple that had pitchforked the BJP to India's political centre-stage in the 1990s. By 1998, the issue had fizzled out and during the general election of 2014, the Ram temple was not even a core campaign issue for BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to a news agency had scotched speculation of immediate legislative intervention to hasten the building of the Ram temple. He had said that the government will await the supreme court's verdict. As of now, a makeshift structure exists where the deity of Lord Ram stands. Despite the prime minister's categorical assertion, the RSS and cadres of the BJP have taken a contrarian position with a view to improving their prospects in the coming general election. In the absence of any wave, the BJP is expected to face strong anti-incumbency in Hindi heartland of the country. Insiders have told WION that Ram Mandir is an issue which binds BJP workers together. However, no construction can take place until the Supreme Court gives its verdict in the long-pending case. The RSS and seers inclined towards BKP want to keep the issue alive till the parliamentary elections.

As elections near, Ram temple back as electoral agenda

Violence continued over the entry of two women of menstruating age into the revered Sabarimala temple, as unidentified people hurled a country-made bomb at the ancestral home of BJP MP and set fire to an office of the RSS here, police said on Saturday.&nbsp;

The two fresh incidents of violence were reported hours after unidentified men threw country-made bombs at the houses of CPI(M) MLA AN Shamsee and the party's former Kannur district secretary P Sasi.

The incident at the ancestral house of BJP Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan occurred in the early hours of Saturday. No one was injured, police said.

Muraleedharan said his ancestral home at Vadiyil Peedikia near Thalassery came under attack, but no one was injured.

"My sister, brother-in-law and their daughter were in the house when the attack took place," he told PTI from Andhra Pradesh.

In another incident, unidentified people set fire to an office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the morning, police sources told PTI.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, triggered massive protests in Kerala.&nbsp;

Muraleedharan had sought a probe by the NIA into the "conspiracy" of police escorting the two women with Maoist links to Sabarimala.

So far, over 1,700 people have been arrested in connection with violence in various parts of the state.

Talking to the media Saturday morning, Sasi said the "powerful" bomb hurled at his house caused damage to the building.

The two fresh incidents of violence were reported hours after unidentified men threw country-made bombs at the houses of CPI(M) MLA A N Shamsee and the party's former Kannur district secretary P Sasi.

Violence continued over the entry of two women of menstruating age into the revered Sabarimala temple, as unidentified people hurled a country-made bomb at the ancestral home of BJP MP and set fire to an office of the RSS here, police said on Saturday. The two fresh incidents of violence were reported hours after unidentified men threw country-made bombs at the houses of CPI(M) MLA AN Shamsee and the party's former Kannur district secretary P Sasi. The incident at the ancestral house of BJP Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan occurred in the early hours of Saturday. No one was injured, police said. Muraleedharan said his ancestral home at Vadiyil Peedikia near Thalassery came under attack, but no one was injured. "My sister, brother-in-law and their daughter were in the house when the attack took place," he told PTI from Andhra Pradesh. In another incident, unidentified people set fire to an office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the morning, police sources told PTI. The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, triggered massive protests in Kerala. Muraleedharan had sought a probe by the NIA into the "conspiracy" of police escorting the two women with Maoist links to Sabarimala. So far, over 1,700 people have been arrested in connection with violence in various parts of the state. Talking to the media Saturday morning, Sasi said the "powerful" bomb hurled at his house caused damage to the building.

Sabarimala violence: BJP MP's ancestral home attacked; RSS office set on fire 

Dalit rights activist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hardik-patel-fast-enters-17th-day-mevani-says-government-must-hold-talks-164949">Jignesh Mevani </a>Saturday was evasive when asked about <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/is-it-going-to-be-rahul-gandhi-vs-narendra-modi-in-2019-185056">his stand on Rahul Gandhi</a>, being propped by the DMK as the opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate.

The independent MLA from Gujarat, when asked who he would support in the Lok Sabha polls next year, told reporters "my support will be to we the people, to the poorest of the poor, to the workers and peasants."

The Gujarat based activist was here to take part in a cultural event coordinated by noted film director Pa Ranjit.

Asked specifically about his opinion on Rahul Gandhi's candidature for the Prime Minister's post, the MLA did not give a direct answer and said: "yes, yes, we should get two crore jobs and farmers suicides should not happen".

Again, when asked if his support would be for the Congress, he repeated "I support we the people...I support Ambedkar...Phule."

DMK president M K Stalin had on December 16 vowed to make Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the country's next prime minister and lauded him for having the ability to defeat the Narendra Modi-led government at the&nbsp; 
Centre.

He stated this at a rally that day followed by the unveiling of a bronze statue of DMK patriarch and his father late M Karunanidhi at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam here.

Besides the DMK, key opposition parties like Congress, TDP and CPI(M) had come together at the event to reaffirm their resolve to dislodge the BJP-led NDA government.

Mevani later joined those present at the event in raising the "Jai Bhim" slogan.

To another question, he referred to the electoral setback for the BJP in states like Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

The backdrop of such electoral drubbings and the Dalit assertion made it amply clear that notwithstanding the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and RSS, "they will not be able to bring back Dalits into the fold of RSS and BJP... They (BJP) will have to suffer a lot," he said.

He lashed out at the Saffron party and alleged that it was "fascist and has a "casteist, manuvadi mentality and agenda."&nbsp;

Dalit rights activist Jignesh Mevani Saturday was evasive when asked about his stand on Rahul Gandhi, being propped by the DMK as the opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Dalit rights activist Jignesh Mevani Saturday was evasive when asked about his stand on Rahul Gandhi, being propped by the DMK as the opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate. The independent MLA from Gujarat, when asked who he would support in the Lok Sabha polls next year, told reporters "my support will be to we the people, to the poorest of the poor, to the workers and peasants." The Gujarat based activist was here to take part in a cultural event coordinated by noted film director Pa Ranjit. Asked specifically about his opinion on Rahul Gandhi's candidature for the Prime Minister's post, the MLA did not give a direct answer and said: "yes, yes, we should get two crore jobs and farmers suicides should not happen". Again, when asked if his support would be for the Congress, he repeated "I support we the people...I support Ambedkar...Phule." DMK president M K Stalin had on December 16 vowed to make Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the country's next prime minister and lauded him for having the ability to defeat the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He stated this at a rally that day followed by the unveiling of a bronze statue of DMK patriarch and his father late M Karunanidhi at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam here. Besides the DMK, key opposition parties like Congress, TDP and CPI(M) had come together at the event to reaffirm their resolve to dislodge the BJP-led NDA government. Mevani later joined those present at the event in raising the "Jai Bhim" slogan. To another question, he referred to the electoral setback for the BJP in states like Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. The backdrop of such electoral drubbings and the Dalit assertion made it amply clear that notwithstanding the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and RSS, "they will not be able to bring back Dalits into the fold of RSS and BJP... They (BJP) will have to suffer a lot," he said. He lashed out at the Saffron party and alleged that it was "fascist and has a "casteist, manuvadi mentality and agenda."

Dalit rights activist Jignesh Mevani evasive on support to 'Rahul for PM pitch'

The BJP top brass has relied on a mix of electoral experience and organisational ability in picking its team of state in-charges to drive the party's 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign, and as expected from the Modi-Shah duo, they have sprung a few surprises as well with the Hindutva agenda being at the core of the choices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have entrusted Gordhan Zadaphia, a fellow Gujarati who was long a bitter Modi critic, with the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh, a state where BJP's performance will be central to its dream to retain power at the Centre.

Election in-charges are trusted lieutenants of the party's central leadership and their job is to be a bridge between it and state units, elicit feedback from grassroots and craft and execute poll campaign while being at the background.

Here is a profile of leaders<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-cm-baghel-conducts-first-cabinet-expansion-9-mlas-take-oath-186308"> chosen as in-charges for 17 states </a>and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Gordhan Zadaphia: He had a big fallout with Modi in 2004 when he refused to take oath as minister. He later floated his own party and joined hands with likes of former state CMs, Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta, to take on Modi.

He returned to BJP before 2014 Lok Sabha polls. What is, however, unquestionable is the 64-year-old leader's Hindutva credentials as his ties with RSS and VHP always remained strong.

The junior home minister in Gujarat government during 2002 riots, Zadaphia has already set a target of winning all 80 seats of UP, where BJP had won 71 seats in 2014.&nbsp;

Incidentally, Shah was UP in-charge in 2014.&nbsp;

Bhupender Yadav: A party general secretary, he will be in charge of Bihar. A lawyer and key party spearhead in Parliament, Yadav has been involved with almost every state election in some way since Shah became BJP chief in 2014.&nbsp;

A low profile leader, he enjoys Shah's trust and has long been in-charge of party affairs in Bihar.

His job will be to iron out any differences with allies— CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP. NDA had won 31 of the state's 40 seats in 2014.

Mahendra Singh: A minister in UP government, BJP has appointed him election in-charge for Assam. Party came to power in the state for first time in 2016, with him as in-charge.&nbsp;

Arun Singh: A party general secretary, he will lead a poll campaign in Odisha. &nbsp;A Thakur leader from UP, Singh (53) started his political career with Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, BJP's youth wing, and has since steadily climbed up the organisational ladder.

BJP had won only one seat out of 21 in Odisha in 2014.

Mangal Pandey: A former Bihar BJP chief, he has also looked after party affairs in Himachal Pradesh in past. Now a minister in Bihar government, Pandey (53) has the responsibility of steering campaign in Jharkhand.

Tirath Singh Rawat: A former Uttarakhand BJP chief, Rawat would lead task in Himachal Pradesh. His job will be to ensure a repeat of 2014 feat when the party won all 4 seats.

Nalin Kohli: A lawyer and savvy spokesperson of the party, Kohli is in-charge of Nagaland and Manipur. BJP is in power in Manipur and its ally is at the helm in Nagaland.&nbsp;

Nitin Nabin: An MLA from Bihar, he has been given charge of Sikkim. He is only 38 and has also been associated with BJYM.

Prakash Javadekar, who has been the party's in charge in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, likes to take everyone on board.&nbsp;

Due to this quality, he has been given the responsibility of Rajasthan, where BJP under Vasundhara Raje has been at loggerheads with its national leadership over various issues. He has to act as a bridge between both sides.&nbsp;

Javadekar enjoys trust of Modi and Shah. He also has the backing of BJP's ideological mentor Sangh.

Sudhanshu Trivedi has also been again given the responsibility of Rajasthan for 2019 polls.

Trivedi, who has a doctorate in mechanical engineering, rose to prominence during his tenure as political advisor to then BJP chief Rajnath Singh. He is known for his political analysis and deep understanding of caste equations.&nbsp;

Captain Abhimanyu, a minister in BJP government in Haryana, has been given the responsibility of Punjab and Chandigarh. An Amit Shah loyalist, he was in his team for UP during 2014 LS polls.&nbsp;

The Jaat leader handed caste-dominated western UP at that time. Hailing from Haryana, he twice has been in-charge of Punjab in 2012 and 2017.&nbsp; 
BJP's Chhattisgarh in charge Anil Jain is a practitioner surgeon at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.&nbsp;

Jain maintains a low profile and is essentially a backroom boy. He takes care of Shah's schedule and political programmes. BJP lost Chhattisgarh last month with him as in charge.&nbsp;

O P Mathur, vice-president of the party, will lead the campaign in Gujarat after 16 years. He was state-in-charge in 2002 assembly elections.&nbsp;

BJP's Dalit face and Union minister Thawarchand Gehlot has again been given charge of Uttrakhand. He's also a member of BJP's parliamentary board.&nbsp;

The architect of party's victory in Tripura, Sunil Deodhar has been given a new challenge of making the party a force in Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;

He is known for his organisation skills especially in strengthening the party on the ground and expanding its network of cadres. He will be assisted by V Muralidharan, party's ex-Kerala unit chief.&nbsp;

The responsibility of Telangana has been given to Aravind Limbavali, sitting MLA from Karnataka and ex-minister.

Swatantra Dev Singh, minister of state (independent charge) in UP, will lead party campaign in Madhya Pradesh. Singh will be accompanied by party's Delhi unit ex-chief Satish Upadhyay.

The BJP top brass has relied on a mix of electoral experience and organisational ability in picking its team of state in-charges to drive the party's 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign, and as expected from the Modi-Shah duo, they have sprung a few surprises as well with the Hindutva agenda being at the core of the choices.

The BJP top brass has relied on a mix of electoral experience and organisational ability in picking its team of state in-charges to drive the party's 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign, and as expected from the Modi-Shah duo, they have sprung a few surprises as well with the Hindutva agenda being at the core of the choices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have entrusted Gordhan Zadaphia, a fellow Gujarati who was long a bitter Modi critic, with the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh, a state where BJP's performance will be central to its dream to retain power at the Centre. Election in-charges are trusted lieutenants of the party's central leadership and their job is to be a bridge between it and state units, elicit feedback from grassroots and craft and execute poll campaign while being at the background. Here is a profile of leaders chosen as in-charges for 17 states and Union Territory of Chandigarh. Gordhan Zadaphia: He had a big fallout with Modi in 2004 when he refused to take oath as minister. He later floated his own party and joined hands with likes of former state CMs, Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta, to take on Modi. He returned to BJP before 2014 Lok Sabha polls. What is, however, unquestionable is the 64-year-old leader's Hindutva credentials as his ties with RSS and VHP always remained strong. The junior home minister in Gujarat government during 2002 riots, Zadaphia has already set a target of winning all 80 seats of UP, where BJP had won 71 seats in 2014. Incidentally, Shah was UP in-charge in 2014. Bhupender Yadav: A party general secretary, he will be in charge of Bihar. A lawyer and key party spearhead in Parliament, Yadav has been involved with almost every state election in some way since Shah became BJP chief in 2014. A low profile leader, he enjoys Shah's trust and has long been in-charge of party affairs in Bihar. His job will be to iron out any differences with allies— CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP. NDA had won 31 of the state's 40 seats in 2014. Mahendra Singh: A minister in UP government, BJP has appointed him election in-charge for Assam. Party came to power in the state for first time in 2016, with him as in-charge. Arun Singh: A party general secretary, he will lead a poll campaign in Odisha. A Thakur leader from UP, Singh (53) started his political career with Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, BJP's youth wing, and has since steadily climbed up the organisational ladder. BJP had won only one seat out of 21 in Odisha in 2014. Mangal Pandey: A former Bihar BJP chief, he has also looked after party affairs in Himachal Pradesh in past. Now a minister in Bihar government, Pandey (53) has the responsibility of steering campaign in Jharkhand. Tirath Singh Rawat: A former Uttarakhand BJP chief, Rawat would lead task in Himachal Pradesh. His job will be to ensure a repeat of 2014 feat when the party won all 4 seats. Nalin Kohli: A lawyer and savvy spokesperson of the party, Kohli is in-charge of Nagaland and Manipur. BJP is in power in Manipur and its ally is at the helm in Nagaland. Nitin Nabin: An MLA from Bihar, he has been given charge of Sikkim. He is only 38 and has also been associated with BJYM. Prakash Javadekar, who has been the party's in charge in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, likes to take everyone on board. Due to this quality, he has been given the responsibility of Rajasthan, where BJP under Vasundhara Raje has been at loggerheads with its national leadership over various issues. He has to act as a bridge between both sides. Javadekar enjoys trust of Modi and Shah. He also has the backing of BJP's ideological mentor Sangh. Sudhanshu Trivedi has also been again given the responsibility of Rajasthan for 2019 polls. Trivedi, who has a doctorate in mechanical engineering, rose to prominence during his tenure as political advisor to then BJP chief Rajnath Singh. He is known for his political analysis and deep understanding of caste equations. Captain Abhimanyu, a minister in BJP government in Haryana, has been given the responsibility of Punjab and Chandigarh. An Amit Shah loyalist, he was in his team for UP during 2014 LS polls. The Jaat leader handed caste-dominated western UP at that time. Hailing from Haryana, he twice has been in-charge of Punjab in 2012 and 2017. BJP's Chhattisgarh in charge Anil Jain is a practitioner surgeon at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. Jain maintains a low profile and is essentially a backroom boy. He takes care of Shah's schedule and political programmes. BJP lost Chhattisgarh last month with him as in charge. O P Mathur, vice-president of the party, will lead the campaign in Gujarat after 16 years. He was state-in-charge in 2002 assembly elections. BJP's Dalit face and Union minister Thawarchand Gehlot has again been given charge of Uttrakhand. He's also a member of BJP's parliamentary board. The architect of party's victory in Tripura, Sunil Deodhar has been given a new challenge of making the party a force in Andhra Pradesh. He is known for his organisation skills especially in strengthening the party on the ground and expanding its network of cadres. He will be assisted by V Muralidharan, party's ex-Kerala unit chief. The responsibility of Telangana has been given to Aravind Limbavali, sitting MLA from Karnataka and ex-minister. Swatantra Dev Singh, minister of state (independent charge) in UP, will lead party campaign in Madhya Pradesh. Singh will be accompanied by party's Delhi unit ex-chief Satish Upadhyay.

BJP bets heavy on electoral experience, organisational ability in selecting Lok Sabha campaign in-charges

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Saturday said while there is a strong Constitution and laws in place, their effective implementation does not happen due to a "lack of sensitivity among the masses".

Bhagwat was addressing a gathering in Mumbai, after taking part in 'Dheyapurti Puraskar Ceremony-2018' organised by Nutan Gulgule Foundation (NGF) working for the cause of the people with physical and mental disabilities.

The RSS chief said religion should not be just read in books but be implemented as a way of life, and that humans should behave like human beings.

"There is a strong Constitution, laws in place. However, they are not being implemented due to a lack of sensitivity among masses. There has to be an awakening in the society," he said.

Bhagwat said one's behaviour in public affects the society and that others follow suit.

He added that while 'pooja' (worship) is a matter of faith, the religion of humanity should be imbibed in one's character and behaviour.

Bhagwat further said one's character should be such that they find the religion of humanity and that everybody should strive to ensure they do whatever they can for Divyangs.&nbsp;

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Saturday said while there is a strong Constitution and laws in place, their effective implementation does not happen due to a "lack of sensitivity among the masses".

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Saturday said while there is a strong Constitution and laws in place, their effective implementation does not happen due to a "lack of sensitivity among the masses". Bhagwat was addressing a gathering in Mumbai, after taking part in 'Dheyapurti Puraskar Ceremony-2018' organised by Nutan Gulgule Foundation (NGF) working for the cause of the people with physical and mental disabilities. The RSS chief said religion should not be just read in books but be implemented as a way of life, and that humans should behave like human beings. "There is a strong Constitution, laws in place. However, they are not being implemented due to a lack of sensitivity among masses. There has to be an awakening in the society," he said. Bhagwat said one's behaviour in public affects the society and that others follow suit. He added that while 'pooja' (worship) is a matter of faith, the religion of humanity should be imbibed in one's character and behaviour. Bhagwat further said one's character should be such that they find the religion of humanity and that everybody should strive to ensure they do whatever they can for Divyangs.

Laws not being enforced effectively due to lack of sensitivity among people: RSS chief

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-vhp-rally-in-delhi-those-in-power-told-to-fulfil-demand-of-temple-in-ayodhya-182661">At VHP rally in Delhi, 'those in power' told to 'fulfil </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-vhp-rally-in-delhi-those-in-power-told-to-fulfil-demand-of-temple-in-ayodhya-182661">demand</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-vhp-rally-in-delhi-those-in-power-told-to-fulfil-demand-of-temple-in-ayodhya-182661"> of temple in Ayodhya'</a>

Senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi on Sunday made a veiled attack on the BJP for not fulfilling its promise of constructing a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded the Union government enact legislation, if need be, for it. 
&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/disenfranchisement-may-be-first-possible-step-after-final-nrc-officials-182670">Disenfranchisement may be </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/disenfranchisement-may-be-first-possible-step-after-final-nrc-officials-182670">first</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/disenfranchisement-may-be-first-possible-step-after-final-nrc-officials-182670"> possible step after final Assam NRC: Officials</a>

Disenfranchisement may be the first possible step against those whose names will not be part of the final list of the NRC to be published after the claims and objections window comes to an end next week, officials said Sunday.

As of now, just about 10 lakh people out of the total of 40 lakh who were excluded in the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the list of Assam's citizens.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rajapaksa-bribed-parliamentarians-to-prove-majority-president-sirisena-182684">Sri Lanka President Sirisena now says Rajapaksa tried to bribe parliamentarians to prove majority</a>

President Maithripala Sirisena here on Saturday said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had tried to bribe politicians in order to show a majority in the country's Parliament.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-must-not-interfere-in-french-politics-foreign-minister-182686">Trump must not interfere in French politics: Foreign minister</a>

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said Donald Trump must not interfere in French politics.&nbsp;

"We do not take domestic American politics into account and we want that to be reciprocated," AFP quoted Jean-Yves Le Drian as telling LCI television.&nbsp;

"Leave our nation be," he added.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/all-eyes-on-macron-as-yellow-vest-protests-continue-to-hit-france-182694">All eyes on Macron as 'Yellow Vest' protests continue to hit France</a>

Calls mounted Sunday for President Emmanuel Macron to bring an end to the "yellow vest" crisis gripping France as authorities in Paris and elsewhere counted the cost of another day of violent protests and looting.&nbsp;

Authorities said the anti-Macron riots in Paris had been less violent than a week ago, with fewer injured -- but city hall said the physical damage was far worse as the protests were spread out across the capital.

Burned-out cars dotted the streets in several neighbourhoods on Sunday morning as cleaners swept up the broken glass from smashed shop windows and bus stops.

At VHP rally in Delhi, 'those in power' told to 'fulfil demand of temple in Ayodhya' Senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi on Sunday made a veiled attack on the BJP for not fulfilling its promise of constructing a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded the Union government enact legislation, if need be, for it.

At VHP rally in Delhi, 'those in power' told to 'fulfil demand of temple in Ayodhya' Senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi on Sunday made a veiled attack on the BJP for not fulfilling its promise of constructing a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded the Union government enact legislation, if need be, for it. Disenfranchisement may be first possible step after final Assam NRC: Officials Disenfranchisement may be the first possible step against those whose names will not be part of the final list of the NRC to be published after the claims and objections window comes to an end next week, officials said Sunday. As of now, just about 10 lakh people out of the total of 40 lakh who were excluded in the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the list of Assam's citizens. Sri Lanka President Sirisena now says Rajapaksa tried to bribe parliamentarians to prove majority President Maithripala Sirisena here on Saturday said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had tried to bribe politicians in order to show a majority in the country's Parliament. Trump must not interfere in French politics: Foreign minister French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said Donald Trump must not interfere in French politics. "We do not take domestic American politics into account and we want that to be reciprocated," AFP quoted Jean-Yves Le Drian as telling LCI television. "Leave our nation be," he added. All eyes on Macron as 'Yellow Vest' protests continue to hit France Calls mounted Sunday for President Emmanuel Macron to bring an end to the "yellow vest" crisis gripping France as authorities in Paris and elsewhere counted the cost of another day of violent protests and looting. Authorities said the anti-Macron riots in Paris had been less violent than a week ago, with fewer injured -- but city hall said the physical damage was far worse as the protests were spread out across the capital. Burned-out cars dotted the streets in several neighbourhoods on Sunday morning as cleaners swept up the broken glass from smashed shop windows and bus stops.

News brief: Big stories of the day

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has alleged that the RSS is leading the "forces of darkness" and it is now the fight of ideas with them in Kerala as the right-wing organisation is piggybacking the Sabarimala issue to gain entry to the state.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Karat, her party's lone woman politburo member, claimed the entry of women of all ages into the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-a-lull-long-queues-packed-crowds-back-in-sabarimala-182503">Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala </a>is not about religion but politics for the BJP.

Her allegations against the RSS-BJP came as Kerala witnessed massive protests by devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine after the LDF government decided to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order to that effect.

The BJP has said it stands with the devotees who hold the Sabarimala tradition close to their hearts&nbsp;and will not let the LDF "crush people's faith with impunity".

The court is set to hear on January 22 petitions seeking a review of its verdict.

Karat said one million women in Kerala will march against the BJP and the RSS on January 1 to halt their foray into Kerala by piggybacking on the Sabarimala issue. 
Women will form human chains across Kerala to stand up for social reforms, she said.

"It is to stop the forces of darkness led by RSS and to take forward the values of social reforms. This is the big battle of ideas happening in Kerala and not just on the Sabarimala issue," Karat, 71, asserted.

Bi-polar polity dominates Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-headed United Democratic Front remain the big players. The BJP, a relatively new entrant into the state's politics, has extended support to the devotees opposed to the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine whose deity, Lord Ayyappa, is celibate.

The temple opened for the two-month-long pilgrim season on November 16. But prohibitory orders had been imposed in and around Sabarimala by police following the protests and fear of violence after the apex court order. The BJP has demanded that the prohibitory orders be lifted.

Terming the court judgment on Sabarimala issue as one aspect of what the BJP, RSS's blueprint is for Kerala, Karat said the state witnessed a wave of social reforms in the 19th and the 20th century and its people needed to decide now if they want to stand with social reforms or recede into darkness.

"All section of society had been involved at that time and mobilised by the great social reformers. Even that time they had to face the wrath of the Hindu orthodoxy.

"What is the fight now is whether those values of social reform and renaissance movement should be taken forward or whether Kerala's society will be pushed backwards by the RSS. That is the real issue," she asserted.

Karat said the CPI(M) has always said whether a woman goes to the temple or not is her choice and if she wants to go, she can't be prohibited.

"Only the fertile women are prohibited, which assumes that menstruating women are impure just as Manushruti (an ancient legal text among many Dharmashastras of Hinduism) holds," she alleged.

She said the agitation launched by BJP-RSS against the Supreme Court verdict has been exposed for "what it really is".

"The cause of this issue lies not in religious sentiment but only in highly sectarian political agenda to destabilise the government and to impose in Kerala the Manuvadi ideology," Karat said.

She said the RSS-BJP and also the Congress leadership initially had welcomed the apex court verdict but later made a U-turn because one section of Kerala's Nair Service Society, which are linked to royal family, opposed the SC's judgment.

She alleged the Congress too has been protesting against the implementation of the September 28 judgment.

"The Congress by siding with BJP-RSS's protest in Kerala over the Sabarimala issue became an accomplice in advancing the political agenda of the saffron party," Karat alleged.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has alleged that the RSS is leading the "forces of darkness" and it is now the fight of ideas with them in Kerala as the right-wing organisation is piggybacking the Sabarimala issue to gain entry to the state.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has alleged that the RSS is leading the "forces of darkness" and it is now the fight of ideas with them in Kerala as the right-wing organisation is piggybacking the Sabarimala issue to gain entry to the state. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Karat, her party's lone woman politburo member, claimed the entry of women of all ages into the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala is not about religion but politics for the BJP. Her allegations against the RSS-BJP came as Kerala witnessed massive protests by devotees opposing the entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine after the LDF government decided to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order to that effect. The BJP has said it stands with the devotees who hold the Sabarimala tradition close to their hearts and will not let the LDF "crush people's faith with impunity". The court is set to hear on January 22 petitions seeking a review of its verdict. Karat said one million women in Kerala will march against the BJP and the RSS on January 1 to halt their foray into Kerala by piggybacking on the Sabarimala issue. Women will form human chains across Kerala to stand up for social reforms, she said. "It is to stop the forces of darkness led by RSS and to take forward the values of social reforms. This is the big battle of ideas happening in Kerala and not just on the Sabarimala issue," Karat, 71, asserted. Bi-polar polity dominates Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-headed United Democratic Front remain the big players. The BJP, a relatively new entrant into the state's politics, has extended support to the devotees opposed to the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine whose deity, Lord Ayyappa, is celibate. The temple opened for the two-month-long pilgrim season on November 16. But prohibitory orders had been imposed in and around Sabarimala by police following the protests and fear of violence after the apex court order. The BJP has demanded that the prohibitory orders be lifted. Terming the court judgment on Sabarimala issue as one aspect of what the BJP, RSS's blueprint is for Kerala, Karat said the state witnessed a wave of social reforms in the 19th and the 20th century and its people needed to decide now if they want to stand with social reforms or recede into darkness. "All section of society had been involved at that time and mobilised by the great social reformers. Even that time they had to face the wrath of the Hindu orthodoxy. "What is the fight now is whether those values of social reform and renaissance movement should be taken forward or whether Kerala's society will be pushed backwards by the RSS. That is the real issue," she asserted. Karat said the CPI(M) has always said whether a woman goes to the temple or not is her choice and if she wants to go, she can't be prohibited. "Only the fertile women are prohibited, which assumes that menstruating women are impure just as Manushruti (an ancient legal text among many Dharmashastras of Hinduism) holds," she alleged. She said the agitation launched by BJP-RSS against the Supreme Court verdict has been exposed for "what it really is". "The cause of this issue lies not in religious sentiment but only in highly sectarian political agenda to destabilise the government and to impose in Kerala the Manuvadi ideology," Karat said. She said the RSS-BJP and also the Congress leadership initially had welcomed the apex court verdict but later made a U-turn because one section of Kerala's Nair Service Society, which are linked to royal family, opposed the SC's judgment. She alleged the Congress too has been protesting against the implementation of the September 28 judgment. "The Congress by siding with BJP-RSS's protest in Kerala over the Sabarimala issue became an accomplice in advancing the political agenda of the saffron party," Karat alleged.

RSS leading 'forces of darkness', it's now fight of ideas in Kerala: Brinda Karat

A large number of BJP and RSS workers protested outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of 68 persons at Sabarimala Temple.

"We arrested 68 devotees after overnight protests around Sabarimala," VN Saji, assistant commissioner of Kerala police said.

The members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had gathered in front of Cliff House-- Vijayan's official residence at Nanthancode in Thiruvananthapuram.

Simultaneous protests were also held at various places across the state in Aranmula, Kochi, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ranni, Thodupuzha, Kaladi, Malappuram and Idukki among others.

To further intensify their stir against "police high handedness", a daylong state-wide agitation will be held on Monday by Yuvamorcha, the youth wing of the BJP, its chief said.

"We have organised state-wide protest against this emergency like situation in the state," Yuvamorcha state president Prakash Babu said.

The protesters were taken into preventive custody Sunday night at the Sabarimala Temple after fresh protests broke out at Nadapanthal area in Sannidhanam where hundreds of devotees agitated against the police restrictions.

Even though there were unconfirmed reports that the detained protesters were taken to Maniyar police camp in Pathanamthitta district, officials at Pamba Police Station, which is around 3.5 km downhill, denied any knowledge.

On the second day of the two-month-long pilgrimage season, the devotees had gathered at the covered pathway to the temple when they were asked to leave Sannidhanam.

Due to the early incidents of violence at the hill-top shrine, the police had imposed strict restrictions for devotees at Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back at night.

Superintendent of Police (special officer) Pratheesh Kumar said people were detained for violating Section 144 that prohibits assembly of more than four people at a spot.

"Section 144 had been declared in the area. We had asked them to disperse after the Harivarasanam but most of them refused," the SP said, adding that the police was not against the devotees who wished to offer prayers.

"Those who have to offer 'neyyabhishekam' (anointing deity with ghee) can stay back. They can recite prayers also. We are not against it. The police will assist those who want to offer prayers," he said.

Police sources claimed they had information that the protesters might create trouble at Sannidhanam and therefore, precautions were taken accordingly.

Rajesh, one of the protesters, said, "We are devotees and we started reciting prayers but the police did not allow us, saying Section 144 (prohibitory orders) has been imposed."

He said he did not mind getting arrested for reciting prayers at Sannidhanam.

A large number of BJP and RSS workers protested outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of 68 persons at Sabarimala Temple.

A large number of BJP and RSS workers protested outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of 68 persons at Sabarimala Temple. "We arrested 68 devotees after overnight protests around Sabarimala," VN Saji, assistant commissioner of Kerala police said. The members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had gathered in front of Cliff House-- Vijayan's official residence at Nanthancode in Thiruvananthapuram. Simultaneous protests were also held at various places across the state in Aranmula, Kochi, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ranni, Thodupuzha, Kaladi, Malappuram and Idukki among others. To further intensify their stir against "police high handedness", a daylong state-wide agitation will be held on Monday by Yuvamorcha, the youth wing of the BJP, its chief said. "We have organised state-wide protest against this emergency like situation in the state," Yuvamorcha state president Prakash Babu said. The protesters were taken into preventive custody Sunday night at the Sabarimala Temple after fresh protests broke out at Nadapanthal area in Sannidhanam where hundreds of devotees agitated against the police restrictions. Even though there were unconfirmed reports that the detained protesters were taken to Maniyar police camp in Pathanamthitta district, officials at Pamba Police Station, which is around 3.5 km downhill, denied any knowledge. On the second day of the two-month-long pilgrimage season, the devotees had gathered at the covered pathway to the temple when they were asked to leave Sannidhanam. Due to the early incidents of violence at the hill-top shrine, the police had imposed strict restrictions for devotees at Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back at night. Superintendent of Police (special officer) Pratheesh Kumar said people were detained for violating Section 144 that prohibits assembly of more than four people at a spot. "Section 144 had been declared in the area. We had asked them to disperse after the Harivarasanam but most of them refused," the SP said, adding that the police was not against the devotees who wished to offer prayers. "Those who have to offer 'neyyabhishekam' (anointing deity with ghee) can stay back. They can recite prayers also. We are not against it. The police will assist those who want to offer prayers," he said. Police sources claimed they had information that the protesters might create trouble at Sannidhanam and therefore, precautions were taken accordingly. Rajesh, one of the protesters, said, "We are devotees and we started reciting prayers but the police did not allow us, saying Section 144 (prohibitory orders) has been imposed." He said he did not mind getting arrested for reciting prayers at Sannidhanam.

Sabarimala: 68 devotees taken into preventive custody; BJP, RSS protest

The RSS raised the pitch for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a &nbsp;veiled threat, senior RSS functionary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that a 1992-like movement can also take place.

It was the movement in the 1990s and LK Advani's Rath Yatra which subsequently led to pulling down of the Babri Masjid by the mob. Bhaiyyaji Joshi made these statements after a three-day brainstorming session. 
&nbsp; 
Joshi in the press conference also said that the RSS expected a sweet Diwali surprise but was disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court which pushed the nearing to 2019.&nbsp;

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Avashyakta padi to karenge: Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS when asked 'Jis tarah se 1992 mein aandolan kiya gaya tha us tarike se aadnolan kiya jaagea iss mudde par?' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamMandir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamMandir</a> <a href="https://t.co/x0YkEC7VIQ">pic.twitter.com/x0YkEC7VIQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1058263921193189377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The RSS says that Hindu sentiments must be respected. Joshi also said that the court must take sentiments of the majority community into account. 
&nbsp; 
The temple issue is currently in the Supreme Court. The courts have shown no hurry to expedite the matter whereas the BJP and the RSS want the temple to be built as soon as possible.

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Ram sab ke hriday mein rehte hain par wo prakat hote hain mandiron ke dwara. Hum chahte hain ki mandir bane. Kaam mein kuch baadhaein awashya hain aur hum apeksha kar rahe hain ki nyalalya Hindu bhavnaon ko samajh ke nirnay dega: Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS <a href="https://t.co/LU37D4pILi">pic.twitter.com/LU37D4pILi</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1058258454475825153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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What is new is that the Ram temple issue by 2004 had become redundant. It was not an issue in 2004, 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and the RSS have now revived the issue as it feels that the 2019 elections will be fought on Hindu consolidation rather than over good governance plank.&nbsp;

Though the RSS also added that they are hopeful of a favourable order from the Supreme Court, the interesting part is that the apex court is treating that issue as a land dispute issue.

The RSS raised the pitch for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a veiled threat, senior RSS functionary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that a 1992-like movement can also take place.

The RSS raised the pitch for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a veiled threat, senior RSS functionary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that a 1992-like movement can also take place. It was the movement in the 1990s and LK Advani's Rath Yatra which subsequently led to pulling down of the Babri Masjid by the mob. Bhaiyyaji Joshi made these statements after a three-day brainstorming session. Joshi in the press conference also said that the RSS expected a sweet Diwali surprise but was disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court which pushed the nearing to 2019. Avashyakta padi to karenge: Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS when asked 'Jis tarah se 1992 mein aandolan kiya gaya tha us tarike se aadnolan kiya jaagea iss mudde par?' #RamMandir pic.twitter.com/x0YkEC7VIQ — ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2018 × The RSS says that Hindu sentiments must be respected. Joshi also said that the court must take sentiments of the majority community into account. The temple issue is currently in the Supreme Court. The courts have shown no hurry to expedite the matter whereas the BJP and the RSS want the temple to be built as soon as possible. Ram sab ke hriday mein rehte hain par wo prakat hote hain mandiron ke dwara. Hum chahte hain ki mandir bane. Kaam mein kuch baadhaein awashya hain aur hum apeksha kar rahe hain ki nyalalya Hindu bhavnaon ko samajh ke nirnay dega: Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS pic.twitter.com/LU37D4pILi — ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2018 × What is new is that the Ram temple issue by 2004 had become redundant. It was not an issue in 2004, 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and the RSS have now revived the issue as it feels that the 2019 elections will be fought on Hindu consolidation rather than over good governance plank. Though the RSS also added that they are hopeful of a favourable order from the Supreme Court, the interesting part is that the apex court is treating that issue as a land dispute issue.

RSS' Bhaiyyaji Joshi hints at second Ram temple campaign

RSS declaration on Ram temple was akin to a carefully crafted ballroom dance metamorphosing into a break dance.&nbsp;

RSS and BJP for years had maintained that temple was a matter of faith but would patiently wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue challenging the legitimacy of the land.&nbsp;

This is the third time BJP has taken political stands which stands in opposition to a judicial verdict for electoral ends.

First BJP gave legitimacy to Jallikattu protest by ensuring an enabling legislation which overturned the court’s verdict.&nbsp;

The second time BJP openly went against the Sabarimala verdict. This is the third time when RSS has openly criticised the Supreme Court. 
&nbsp; 
The press conference not only announced the intention of the possibility of a political mobilisation akin to 1992 but also reaffirmed that commitment to Palanpur Session.&nbsp;

It was also a veiled threat of patience running thin and even Supreme Court’s view can be subservient to majority sentiments. 
&nbsp; 
This brings us to the question as to why Ram Temple has become a burning political issue? What has happened in last 2 years that BJP and RSS have increasingly turned to Ram Temple as an issue to mobilise its core voters? Is it because BJP stumped everyone on the shamshan and kabristan issue?

The answer to this question this lies to the realisation that BJP as a party only remains appealing to its core voters till it remains committed to the idea of cultural nationalism and the majoritarian idea of India. 
&nbsp; 
BJP in 1989 adopted Ram Temple as a party issue at Palanpur Session. So, technically it is not a U-turn. It only finishes the ambiguity of patience and long wait. The statement makes it clear that RSS expects the verdict in a certain way and would want the courts to take note of it.

So what happens to glasnost and perestroika which was announced with great fanfare after Mohan Bhagwat’s three-day seminar? Is it a reminder to the government that private member bills be moved and ordinance option should be explored? 
&nbsp; 
In my opinion, it all boils down to keeping the expectation of the people high on the issue - Hindu getting victimised by elitist institutions like courts. The idea is to keep the pot boiling. BJP understands that good governance and ‘Grand Alliance’ as a bad idea will not be enough to pull the Modi chariot in 2019. 
&nbsp; 
They would require much more than that. Rafale has dented the image of the government and GST’s impact is very much visible on the economy. The talk on the Ram Temple is not an act of desperation. It is based on the realisation that unless and until the politics does not remain centred around cultural nationalism as opposed to multi-culturalism BJP will not be able to stand a chance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

The Palampur Session in 1989 specifically mentioned that the disputed site must be handed over to Hindus either through mutual dialogue or an enabling legislation. It shows that BJP remains committed to the Palanpur resolution. The deviation took place during Vajpayee's tenure when BJP had to deep freeze Ayodhya issue because of an unwieldy coalition.

Today, BJP does not depend on alliance for running the government. The only issue it faces is that if ever they fall short of a majority in future, they could be looking at a very bleak future as the choice would get limited to a few regional parties. They will have very few options. 
 
The decision of 1992 run is also a challenge to parties which commit themselves to a multicultural secular politics. Ayodhya is many things to many people today. For some, it is only about votes. For some, it is about faith. For some, it is about Muslim domination. For some, it is about Ram’s birth. For some, it is a matter of academics. For some, it is about Hindu victimisation by foreign taught babalogs. But foremost, today it should be about the civility of exchange. It is missing on both sides even after the demolition.

Today Ayodhya is at the cusp of deciding the destiny of our country. When Ataturk converted Hagia Sophia into a museum, the world knew where Turkey would be heading. It became a modern secular nation. A temple in Ayodhya will not make India a theocracy, but if the temple is made through coercion then it would definitely mutate us from the idea as we were conceived as nation in 1947 by our founding fathers. It will be far removed from Gandhi’s Ram Rajya. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

RSS declaration on Ram temple was akin to a carefully crafted ballroom dance metamorphosing into a break dance. RSS and BJP for years had maintained that temple was a matter of faith but would patiently wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue challenging the legitimacy of the land.

RSS declaration on Ram temple was akin to a carefully crafted ballroom dance metamorphosing into a break dance. RSS and BJP for years had maintained that temple was a matter of faith but would patiently wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue challenging the legitimacy of the land. This is the third time BJP has taken political stands which stands in opposition to a judicial verdict for electoral ends. First BJP gave legitimacy to Jallikattu protest by ensuring an enabling legislation which overturned the court’s verdict. The second time BJP openly went against the Sabarimala verdict. This is the third time when RSS has openly criticised the Supreme Court. The press conference not only announced the intention of the possibility of a political mobilisation akin to 1992 but also reaffirmed that commitment to Palanpur Session. It was also a veiled threat of patience running thin and even Supreme Court’s view can be subservient to majority sentiments. This brings us to the question as to why Ram Temple has become a burning political issue? What has happened in last 2 years that BJP and RSS have increasingly turned to Ram Temple as an issue to mobilise its core voters? Is it because BJP stumped everyone on the shamshan and kabristan issue? The answer to this question this lies to the realisation that BJP as a party only remains appealing to its core voters till it remains committed to the idea of cultural nationalism and the majoritarian idea of India. BJP in 1989 adopted Ram Temple as a party issue at Palanpur Session. So, technically it is not a U-turn. It only finishes the ambiguity of patience and long wait. The statement makes it clear that RSS expects the verdict in a certain way and would want the courts to take note of it. So what happens to glasnost and perestroika which was announced with great fanfare after Mohan Bhagwat’s three-day seminar? Is it a reminder to the government that private member bills be moved and ordinance option should be explored? In my opinion, it all boils down to keeping the expectation of the people high on the issue - Hindu getting victimised by elitist institutions like courts. The idea is to keep the pot boiling. BJP understands that good governance and ‘Grand Alliance’ as a bad idea will not be enough to pull the Modi chariot in 2019. They would require much more than that. Rafale has dented the image of the government and GST’s impact is very much visible on the economy. The talk on the Ram Temple is not an act of desperation. It is based on the realisation that unless and until the politics does not remain centred around cultural nationalism as opposed to multi-culturalism BJP will not be able to stand a chance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The Palampur Session in 1989 specifically mentioned that the disputed site must be handed over to Hindus either through mutual dialogue or an enabling legislation. It shows that BJP remains committed to the Palanpur resolution. The deviation took place during Vajpayee's tenure when BJP had to deep freeze Ayodhya issue because of an unwieldy coalition. Today, BJP does not depend on alliance for running the government. The only issue it faces is that if ever they fall short of a majority in future, they could be looking at a very bleak future as the choice would get limited to a few regional parties. They will have very few options. The decision of 1992 run is also a challenge to parties which commit themselves to a multicultural secular politics. Ayodhya is many things to many people today. For some, it is only about votes. For some, it is about faith. For some, it is about Muslim domination. For some, it is about Ram’s birth. For some, it is a matter of academics. For some, it is about Hindu victimisation by foreign taught babalogs. But foremost, today it should be about the civility of exchange. It is missing on both sides even after the demolition. Today Ayodhya is at the cusp of deciding the destiny of our country. When Ataturk converted Hagia Sophia into a museum, the world knew where Turkey would be heading. It became a modern secular nation. A temple in Ayodhya will not make India a theocracy, but if the temple is made through coercion then it would definitely mutate us from the idea as we were conceived as nation in 1947 by our founding fathers. It will be far removed from Gandhi’s Ram Rajya. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Ayodhya 2.0: RSS and BJP go back to basics

The RSS is mulling training its cadres on rescue and rehabilitation operations after natural calamities, a senior functionary of the organisation said here Wednesday.

A three-day meeting of the Sangh's Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal began at Bhayander near here Wednesday. It was inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Speaking to the media, the Sangh's joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya said several issues of national importance would be discussed during the meeting.

"RSS volunteers work with dedication during natural calamities, but they are not trained for it. In this meeting, there will be a discussion on how to train them to tackle the calamities," he said.

There will also be a discussion on water conservation and environment protection initiatives to be taken up by volunteers, he said.

"Sangh has also undertaken an important work in the form of an activity called 'Kutumb Prabodhan'. Families are getting scattered or broken up nowadays. The Sangh is concerned about how to keep families together," Vaidya said.

The Sangh has around 55,000 'shakha' (primary units) in the country, Vaidya informed. "In all, around 31,000 villages have shakha. Of the total number of shakha, 82 per cent are in rural areas," he said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is also working for preservation of Indian breeds of cow, development of cow-oriented farming and healthcare based on cow products, Vaidya said.&nbsp;

The RSS is mulling training its cadres on rescue and rehabilitation operations after natural calamities, a senior functionary of the organisation said here Wednesday.

The RSS is mulling training its cadres on rescue and rehabilitation operations after natural calamities, a senior functionary of the organisation said here Wednesday. A three-day meeting of the Sangh's Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal began at Bhayander near here Wednesday. It was inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking to the media, the Sangh's joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya said several issues of national importance would be discussed during the meeting. "RSS volunteers work with dedication during natural calamities, but they are not trained for it. In this meeting, there will be a discussion on how to train them to tackle the calamities," he said. There will also be a discussion on water conservation and environment protection initiatives to be taken up by volunteers, he said. "Sangh has also undertaken an important work in the form of an activity called 'Kutumb Prabodhan'. Families are getting scattered or broken up nowadays. The Sangh is concerned about how to keep families together," Vaidya said. The Sangh has around 55,000 'shakha' (primary units) in the country, Vaidya informed. "In all, around 31,000 villages have shakha. Of the total number of shakha, 82 per cent are in rural areas," he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is also working for preservation of Indian breeds of cow, development of cow-oriented farming and healthcare based on cow products, Vaidya said.

RSS plans to train cadres on natural calamities rescue, rehab operations

The RSS said Monday that the Supreme Court should make an early decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute in Ayodhya and the Union government should bring a legislation to remove hurdles, if any, in the way of the construction of a Ram temple at the site.&nbsp;

RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said the Allahabad High Court in its verdict has accepted that the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram and a temple existed there.

The high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, had said the 2.77-acre land be divided equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.&nbsp;

“The Sangh believes a grand Ram temple should be constructed soon at the birthplace of Lord Ram. And land should be allotted at the birthplace for temple construction. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created.

“With this in view, the Supreme Court should make an early decision and if there are any difficulties, the government should make a law to remove all hurdles in the way of giving land for the temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site,” Kumar said in a statement. Kumar said the high court has accepted that the said site is the birthplace of Lord Ram. “Ever since this Andolan was started by saints, we have supported it and will continue to support them in their decisions in future,” he said.

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an “appropriate bench”, which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the high court verdict will be decided by that bench.

The RSS said Monday that the Supreme Court should make an early decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute in Ayodhya and the Union government should bring a legislation to remove hurdles, if any, in the way of the construction of a Ram temple at the site.

The RSS said Monday that the Supreme Court should make an early decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute in Ayodhya and the Union government should bring a legislation to remove hurdles, if any, in the way of the construction of a Ram temple at the site. RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said the Allahabad High Court in its verdict has accepted that the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram and a temple existed there. The high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, had said the 2.77-acre land be divided equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. “The Sangh believes a grand Ram temple should be constructed soon at the birthplace of Lord Ram. And land should be allotted at the birthplace for temple construction. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created. “With this in view, the Supreme Court should make an early decision and if there are any difficulties, the government should make a law to remove all hurdles in the way of giving land for the temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site,” Kumar said in a statement. Kumar said the high court has accepted that the said site is the birthplace of Lord Ram. “Ever since this Andolan was started by saints, we have supported it and will continue to support them in their decisions in future,” he said. The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an “appropriate bench”, which will decide the schedule of hearing. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said the future course of hearing in January next year on the appeals filed against the high court verdict will be decided by that bench.

Ram temple: SC should decide early, govt should bring law to remove hurdles, says RSS

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