OdishaPlus Bureau
For BJP leaders in Odisha, it seemed all roads lead to SOA university campus where RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has camped for Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal, the highest decision-making body of RSS. Bhagwat is on a nine-day tour to Odisha. Ever since Bhagwat arrived in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, BJP leaders have made beelines to meet the RSS chief.
Even at the airport, Swayam Sevaks were outnumbered by BJP workers. All of them claimed that they were part of RSS since childhood. There were also arguments among them on their long association with the RSS.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Pratap Sarangi, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Rajya Sabha MP Ashiwini Vaishnav and all MPs and MLAs were seen at Bhagwat’s meeting place. Though Bhagwat did not allow any of the BJP leaders to share the dais, the Union Ministers, MPs and MLAs were seen occupying the seats in the front row at SOA auditorium.
Bhagwat, who is considered most powerful after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also did not talk to BJP leaders at public place.
However, there was a competition among the BJP leaders to show their faces to the RSS Chief.
Bhagwat, who started his Odisha sojourn on Saturday will stay in the state till October 20. He will attend the Mandal meeting on October 16, 17 and 18. BJP national working president JP Nadda is also scheduled to attend the RSS’ national meet.
Everyone in the BJP feels that it will not take much time to change their fates with the blessings of Bhagwat. But meeting Bhagwat is a tough task as the RSS Chief is well guarded by Swayam Sevaks.
After praising Mahatma Gandhi on the legend’s 150th Birth Anniversary, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has attempted to erase the public impression that the RSS works only for Hindus. Emphasizing that RSS has no hatred towards anyone, Bhagwat said the Sangh seeks to change the entire society, not just the Hindus, to transform the country towards the better.
Addressing a meeting of intellectuals, Bhagwat said it is essential to organize the society as a whole and all sections must move together and RSS is working in that direction. “We have no hatred towards anyone. We must move together for building a better society that can bring changes and help develop the country as a whole,” he said.
Upon arrival, Bhagwat said, “It is our wish that the RSS label is removed and RSS and the society work as a single group. Let all credit goes to the society.”Hailing the diversity of India, he said the entire country is tied in one string.
“People of India consider themselves as one irrespective of diverse culture, languages, geographical locations,” he said.
Because of this unique feeling of oneness, people belonging to different faiths such as Muslims, Parsis, and others feel safe in the country, Bhagawat said. “Parsis are well protected in India and Muslims are also happy.”
In the pursuit to bring about change in society, he said, the right approach is to prepare the best person who can play an important role in effecting the transformation, as it is not possible to change each of the over 130 crore people in in the country.
It is important to bring in changes in society so that the fate of the country improves and it is necessary to prepare the best person – someone with a clean character and capable of taking the lead “in every street, village, and town”, the RSS chief said.
Individuals, he said, are insignificant before the society and it is important to create proper conditions that will pave the way for nation-building.
During his stay in Bhubaneswar, he will attend the maiden meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal, along with Bhayaji Joshi, the second in command in the RSS.