A spate of meetings later, chaired by Mohan Bhagwat, it has emerged that 2024 elections is very crucial for Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) as it comes just before the 100th anniversary of the Sangh. Despite this, the Sangh’s official version being that these dialogues just be seen as the yearly practice without attaching any political significance to them.
The Sangh wants to reach out to more and more people who while doing their jobs can become a part its activities. “These should be such people who place the nation above all else,” said Bhagwat.
The body will also identify opportunities for outreach and strengthening its presence and influence among all sections of Hindus.
One of the key elements of this outreach shall be a curb on love jihad and forceful conversions. Though no one religion or sect was named as responsible for the activities, the Sangh’s message was to tackle anti-social and anti-national elements especially at the rural level through quick awareness building and outreach.
A senior member of the Sangh said it was a big task to form more ‘shakhas’ and identify more works of public good, in the lead up the anniversary celebrations. “A win in the Lok Sabha elections has to be ensured and we will focus on Dalits, OBCs and women,” he said.
The fanning out of Sangh members to different parts of the country in the buildup to the opening of the Ram Mandir was also discussed. At numerous places across the country, symbolic ‘pran pratisthas’ (the ceremony of breathing life into an idol) will take place. Who will do these and how the places will be chosen shall be done with a keen eye on the ensuing political gain in 2024.
There was also discussion on how to get more women within the ambit of the RSS. The Rashtriya Swayam Sewika Samiti has a very strong presence in the south and in Maharashtra so efforts will have to be concentrated in the north.
