Showing the RSS as an enemy of the people has been a standard template of the Congress party since 1947, as it fears the growing acceptance of the Sangh and its ideology among people from all walks of life, a trend that has continued into its centenary year. To get into the good books of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, several Congress leaders have made a habit of publicly criticising the RSS and its people.
Following the same pattern, it seems Kerala CM V.D. Satheeshan is angry with three university Vice-Chancellors in Keralam – Dr Mohanan Kunnummel, Kerala University of Health Sciences & VC-in-charge of Kerala University; Dr D. Mavoothu, Mahatma University; and Dr Prasad, Malayalam University – for attending an event addressed by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat.
The reason is too serious for him, but not for the people of Kerala: all three VCs attended the RSS programme held on June 13 for special invitees in Thiruvananthapuram, which was addressed by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat in connection with the centenary of the RSS. The Sarsanghchalak spoke on “Journey of RSS in 100 Years” and then answered questions from the audience.
The CM V.D. Satheeshan criticised the VCs in strong words. He termed it a “grave lapse” unbecoming of their academic offices. He went to the extent of demanding their apology to the people of Kerala. The CM said that any action lending legitimacy to communalism is unacceptable. His next complaint was that the VCs had severely undermined the respect and dignity of their positions.
Minister of Higher Education Roji M. John echoed the CM. He saw it as a serious issue. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan was not far behind. He said this is the way the RSS tightens its grip on higher education in the state.
But Satheeshan was jumping into his own trap. BJP leader K. Surendran shared a picture of V.D. Satheeshan inaugurating the birth centenary programme of the second Sarsanghchalak, Guruji M.S. Golwalkar, in 2006. So, he said, if anybody has to apologise, Satheeshan is the first one.
Observers opine that VCs do enjoy the fundamental right to attend any programme they like. The programme was not conducted on any university premises. V.D. Satheeshan is questioning the VCs’ fundamental rights.
BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar MLA stated that V.D. Satheeshan should apologise to the people for surrendering the state before Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI. The RSS always promotes patriotism, social service and national unity. The academic community has the right to attend programmes where national issues are discussed.
The BJP leader alleged that Satheeshan heads a ministry consisting of a minister who repeatedly said that religion is most important to them (he was referring to Indian Union Muslim League minister K.M. Shaji). Such a CM does not have the right to preach secularism. The CM conveniently forgets that his government came to power with the support of Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI. He became the Chief Minister with their support.
Senior BJP leader V. Muraleedharan MLA strongly defended the VCs. He alleged that Satheeshan is threatening academics. He questioned the logic behind the Chief Minister’s attack on the VCs. The RSS is a mainstream socio-cultural organisation. The Prime Minister and Rashtrapati participate in RSS programmes.
Actually, it is a pity that V.D. Satheeshan does not know much about RSS history. Mahatma Gandhiji, B.R. Ambedkar and Kailash Nath Katju (Home Minister in Nehru’s Cabinet and later Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh) are among the galaxy of luminaries who have graced RSS programmes. Kailash Nath Katju was the Chief Minister at that time. When Nehru and other Congress leaders questioned him, he said: “Once you are in an RSS programme, you cannot help but praise the swayamsevaks. That is the discipline and dedication the swayamsevaks possess.”
In 2018, former Rashtrapati and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee shared the dais with Dr Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur. During that visit, he wrote in the visitors’ book describing RSS founder Dr Hedgewar as a “great son of Mother India”. He had hosted Mohanji Bhagwat in Rashtrapati Bhavan while he was in office.
The then Rashtrapati V.V. Giri, on September 2, 1970, inaugurated the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, which was founded by veteran RSS leader Eknath Ranade. Smt Indira Gandhi, on May 15, 1983, inaugurated the Bharat Mata Temple, a project of the VHP, in Haridwar.
In November 2024, President Droupadi Murmu and RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat shared the same dais during the inaugural session of Lokmanthan 2024 in Hyderabad, where President Murmu formally inaugurated the event.
Critics argue that if Satheeshan finds a few minutes to search for the above historical events on Google, he would stop making blunders about the RSS.
