RSS-BJP coalition: Then and now

By NewsGram Staff Writer

The first high voltage RSS-BJP coordination committee meeting since the BJP-led NDA government came to power sheds light on the history of camaraderie shared by both these organizations. The recently convened meeting was first of its kind after Narendra Modi came to power.

Though the Sangh has always endorsed an apolitical stance; the same has been refuted many a times by governments at the centre.

For instance, the home ministry in the year 1966 had issued an official order that barred government appointees from participating in Sangh affairs. Though the order has been overhauled in some of the states, the tenets remain the same for majority of them.

Further, the Sangh has also been subjected to a string of banishments since 1947. For instance, the Sangh was banned after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1948-1949. It faced a similar fate during emergency and after the contentious Babri Masjid demolition.

In the year 1950, the Sangh took a political shape much against the intent of RSS chief Mohan Golwalkar who was dead against the organization's donning a political fervour. Despite disputes, Bharatiya Jan Sangh came into existence with leaders like Deenadayal Upadhyaya, A B Vajpayee, Nanaji Deshmukh, L K Advani and others.

The new found party contested Lok Sabha elections for the first time in the year 1952. The culmination of BJP after the Janata Party failed to hold its ground at the centre in the year 1980 unravelled a new chapter in the political milieu. The relation between the Sangh and BJP wasn't all hunky-dory during the initial years owing to the Gandhiwadi stance taken by the Vajpayee led-BJP.

Despite the continuance of personal level meetings between the important leaders of BJP and RSS during the NDA regime in the 1990s, RSS leaders weren't pleased with the BJP leaders. This became more visible after the NDA lost the 2004 elections.

However, things have taken up a more consolidated shape after the Narendra Modi government helming affairs at the centre. There is a top level coordination committee of RSS and BJP leaders who deliberate on important issues concerning governance.

Krishna Gopal, Suresh Soni, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari are some of the important leaders of the aforesaid committee. Further, there are different groups of experts and pracharaks who meet important ministers in their attempt at shaping the policies of the government.

It is believed that many Union ministers await Sangh's approval for appointments and decisions.