A surprising news emerged from the recent RSS meeting in Mathura, prominently mentioning Rahul Gandhi. This is quite peculiar given Rahul Gandhi's usual confrontational stance towards the RSS.
Rahul Gandhi is even facing a defamation trial linked to the RSS in a Bhiwandi court. The case, filed by an RSS worker, accuses Rahul Gandhi under IPC sections 499 and 500, alleging that he blamed the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination during a 2014 rally.
Rahul Gandhi claims an ideological battle with the RSS and BJP, and considers regional parties ineffective allies because, like the Congress, he believes they lack ideological sincerity.
This raises questions about why Dattatreya Hosabale thinks meeting the staunch critic Rahul Gandhi is desirable. He might say the RSS continually interacts with all, echoing past accounts of Indira Gandhi's associations with RSS leaders. However, Rahul Gandhi's approach shows little inclination to engage with RSS members.
In June 2018, former President Pranab Mukherjee attended an RSS event in Nagpur. Before his visit, Congress leaders gave strong reactions, and even his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee found it hard to accept.
Did Dattatreya Hosabale receive any special indication? Or is it just another attempt by the RSS to engage Congress?
During a media interaction in Mathura after an RSS meeting, Dattatreya Hosabale mentioned Rahul Gandhi, saying, 'If you wish to sell the idea of love in a marketplace of hate, you should meet people... we are willing to meet everyone.'
Rahul Gandhi, however, strongly disagrees with such sentiments, often stating, 'I can't walk into an RSS office... even if threatened.'
This discussion surfaced while addressing potential disagreements between the RSS and BJP before the 2024 general elections. Dattatreya Hosabale noted that they converse with leaders of all political parties, every businessperson, and prominent figures from various communities, expressing no tensions with any group.
There's extensive talk about Indira Gandhi's interaction with RSS leaders. This connection is notably detailed in senior journalist Nirja Chaudhary's book 'How Prime Ministers Decide.'
The book claims that while Indira Gandhi maintained amicable relations with RSS leaders, both sides also kept a certain distance. It notes that RSS sought her help, and she occasionally used these connections to her advantage, sustaining a friendly relation even during the emergency period.
Nirja Chaudhary writes, 'The then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras wrote to her several times... Some RSS leaders also reached out to Sanjay Gandhi through Kapil Mohan.'
Concerns about Muslim dissatisfaction with the Congress pushed Indira Gandhi to incorporate Hindu elements into her politics, ensuring RSS's discreet agreement or neutrality could prove beneficial.
Rahul Gandhi's views towards the RSS starkly differ from those of Indira Gandhi, partly due to their divergent political contexts. While Indira Gandhi held power, Rahul Gandhi continues the struggle to attain it. During Indira Gandhi’s era, there was an absence of formidable Hindu leadership, prompting her to connect with Hindus via the RSS, which she largely succeeded in doing. Conversely, Rahul Gandhi leads the Congress at a time when BJP, with Modi's formidable leadership, shoulders the Hindu populace.
Amid unified Hindus, Rahul pivots towards minorities and communities that oppose Hindu and Hindutva identity. His focus hence steers towards Hindus who resonate neither with the RSS nor its Hindutva ideology.
While Indira Gandhi aimed to court Hindus through the RSS, Rahul seeks paths beyond. It’s conceivable that his outlook towards RSS might change if he assumes power, yet presently it seems unlikely. It certainly doesn’t appear that he intends to meet RSS leaders.
Outwardly, it seems so, yet if over time subterranean alignments form, that's a different matter. Despite promoting a 'shop of love' in his speeches, Rahul Gandhi seems poised to critique the RSS consistently.
