Parivartan ushers in a new dawn for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
KOLKATA, 11 MARCH: The change of regime in West Bengal has proved to be a blessing for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which has been able to strengthen its base in the state considerably during the past two years.
This is something the Hindutva brigade couldn’t achieve during the erstwhile Marxist rule, particularly because of the former chief minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee’s “rabid” opposition to its ideology. There has been eight to 11 per cent growth in the RSS ranks in Bengal since the Trinamul Congress government captured power. A large number of youth are regularly joining the RSS as volunteers and participating in several programmes, including playing lathi, taking part in free hand exercise, yoga, judo and karate. They are also being encouraged to read books on the Hidutva ideology and the country’s cultural history.
A senior organiser of the RSS said: “The CPI-M used to think that only the RSS, an organised wing, is its strong rival and so it tried to wipe out our organisation in West Bengal, but it failed.”
Around 1,200 units are being run in South Bengal and 550 units in North Bengal where thousands of RSS supporters joined in the past three years and participated in special training camps. Under one unit several small branches are run in rural and urban areas. The RSS also organises special training camps each year. Members in the age group of 14-40 regularly meet at the branches
This is something the Hindutva brigade couldn’t achieve during the erstwhile Marxist rule, particularly because of the former chief minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee’s “rabid” opposition to its ideology. There has been eight to 11 per cent growth in the RSS ranks in Bengal since the Trinamul Congress government captured power. A large number of youth are regularly joining the RSS as volunteers and participating in several programmes, including playing lathi, taking part in free hand exercise, yoga, judo and karate. They are also being encouraged to read books on the Hidutva ideology and the country’s cultural history.
A senior organiser of the RSS said: “The CPI-M used to think that only the RSS, an organised wing, is its strong rival and so it tried to wipe out our organisation in West Bengal, but it failed.”
Around 1,200 units are being run in South Bengal and 550 units in North Bengal where thousands of RSS supporters joined in the past three years and participated in special training camps. Under one unit several small branches are run in rural and urban areas. The RSS also organises special training camps each year. Members in the age group of 14-40 regularly meet at the branches
The RSS is rapidly strengthening its base in the Indo-Bangla border areas, including the Sunderbans. The failure of the government to restrict illegal immigration and cattle smuggling is uniting many local youths who are joining the RSS. “Local people are suffering a lot following cattle smuggling. Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are ruling the border areas and local people are being regularly assaulted and robbed by them,” the RSS leader said. In the city, the RSS has even strengthened its base in the IT sector in Salt Lake. It could enlist the support of about 5,500 youth from the IT hub during the past few years. Mr Krishanu Mitra, spokesperson of RSS, said many IT sector youth regularly attended RSS branch units at night after their office hours.
Recently, the RSS showed its strength at Gayeshpur in Nadia where more than 15,000 trained volunteers (15-40 age groups) from South Bengal organised a three day-camp to pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda.
Makeshift camps were set up along a 2-km stretch.
Recently, the RSS showed its strength at Gayeshpur in Nadia where more than 15,000 trained volunteers (15-40 age groups) from South Bengal organised a three day-camp to pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda.
Makeshift camps were set up along a 2-km stretch.
Courtesy: The Statesman
