It’s hard not to miss the belligerent tone in RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s speeches, post-Vijayadashmi. After having started on a reformist note — he repeatedly invoked Abdul Kalam and Verghese Kurien in his first few speeches after taking over as RSS sarsanghachalak early this year, to explain “his idea of an inclusive Hindu way of life” — Bhagwat has been overtly political in his pronouncements lately.

He spoke about a “swayamsevak chief minister setting an example for others” (Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s “statue diplomacy” with his Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi); stressed the need to restore the “pre-August 15, 1947 map of the Indian Union”; and last week, like a veteran demagogue, warned China against “its designs on India”. “India has the wherewithal to divide China into three parts, were such a need to arise,” he reportedly said.

Some may be tempted to read Bhagwat’s speeches as the usual RSS stuff. There is, however, a pattern discernible. After his three days in Delhi this August, when every single BJP leader of note knocked on his door, Bhagwat asked them to “behave and function like a team”. Seeing no signs of his “shape up or ship out message” getting through on the ground, the RSS chief, it appears, has arrogated to himself the demagogic role that had made the BJP president proud until a few months ago (one of the favourite themes of BJP president Rajnath Singh has been on “how India should deal with Pakistan and POK”).

Bhagwat’s message, evidently, has gone down well with the BJP cadre. The IIT-educated Goa BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, whose name has been discussed as a “future prospect”, often likes to temper his speeches with “his being a bal swayamsevak”. Some of the central party’s lawyer-turned-spokespersons, too, spare no effort in convincing others how “they are thoroughbred swayamsevaks”.

... contd.