Hindutva forces give much-needed ammunition to Opposition

New Delhi: It were “achchhe din” that Narendra Modi had promised and his government took many initiatives towards it but many feel that with an RSS pracharak leading the country, Hindutva forces grew and diverted the attention from the government’s work to controversies.

From controversial “ghar wapsi” campaign to “love jihad” to Hindutva rhetoric by saffron brigade, it all gave the much-needed ammunition to the Opposition to hit at the government which came to power with a brute majority. The brute majority which the BJP and Mr Modi got also reflected upon the aspirations and the trust people had on the saffron party’s poll agenda of “good governance” and “development” but the untrained and inarticulate spokespersons of Hindutva, diverted the attention from the government’s work.

Even the Sangh Parivar’s fountainhead, RSS, was blamed for interfering in the government. The Modi government came under attack for saffronising the education system and appointing “unqualified RSS functionaries” at premiere institutions. Many feel the ruling BJP and Modi government failed to rein in these growing assertiveness of the Hindutva forces this despite Prime Minister himself strongly objecting to the controversial remarks made by one of his ministers.

Sangh Parivar affiliate VHP leaders’ controversial remarks on family planning regarding a particular community also added to the government’s problems.

Mr Modi’s interview to a foreign magazine recently, where he had said that the Constitution was the only holy book for his government and it was his duty to ensure total protection of all religions, was seen as a result of growing perception that Hindutva brigade is growing under the NDA regime.

The RSS, however, denied it interferes in the government functioning.