NATIONAL POLITICS
An Analysis of RSS Election Literature, 1996
The RSS and its wings have come out openly in the elections issuing, for the first time, handbills and pamphlets seeking support for "Hindutva".
The RSS is billing the coming elections for the Lok Sabha and some assemblies as a "tough test" for the ongoing "awakening" in the Hindu community.
This line has been taken in some handbills and pamphlets issued recently by the RSS for both restricted readership for the swayamsevaks, its members and for general circulation. The general circulation handbill runs into four pages and is in Hindi - "Deshbhakt janata ke naam namra nivedan" (An appeal to patriots).
It has been issued jointly by RSS sarsanghchalak (chief) Rajendra Singh Rajju Bhaiyya', VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmia and two others of the RSS women's and tribal-welfare wings.
The one for restricted circulation has come from sangh sarkaryavaha (general secretary) H.V. Seshadri. it fs also in Hindi and is addressed to "Priya swayamsevak bandhu" (Dear swayamsevak colleague).
This pamphlet is read out once every morning at the nearly 12,000 morning shakhas (meeting of the local units of the sangh) and 8,000 evening shakhas here. "To remind everyone of the contents of the appeal", said sources.
When the swayamsevaks disperse after the shakhas, each one is given a set of the pamphlet containing a general appeal by Rajju Bhaiyya for distribution in the neighbourhood.
An RSS activist said, "This was the first time the sangh is distributing pamphlets and handbills". Earlier, he added, messages from the brass were conveyed down the line orally.
Another first, the sources said, was the involvement of the local RSS leadership in actual campaigning. "Earlier, only the ranks were left to do the campaigning and other election work."
Now, the local leadership shikshak, who heads the sangh's basic unit, karyawahaks, prant pracharaks (district heads) and sanghchalaks are also out in the field.
A large number of them are believed to be operating in the Outer Delhi constituency for the BJP candidate Krishan Lal Sharma, who was once a sangh pracharak (a sort of a missionary).
A third set of handbills going around is four-page long and is issued by Hindu Manch, a wing of the sangh. On the first page, it urges people to "Arise and awaken to defeat India's destructive forces".
On the last page, the manch has given an election slogan in Hindi - "Won't let caste divide us/all Hindus will remain as one/whoever thinks well of the Hindu/he or she deserves the vote."
The four-page general appeal by Rajju Bhaiyya and Mr. Dalmia said, "The coming elections will be a test of the extent to which countrymen have awakened and how conscious they are of Hindutva."
Mr. Seshadri's appeal takes the same line "Fortunately for the country Hindus are awakening, The coming elections are going to be a hard test for this awakening."
The pitch in general is "protect the country from anti-Hindu forces". In the appeal to swayamsevaks, they have been asked to use the lessons picked up from the sangh to "free the country's polity from anti-Hindu forces".
The handbills warn of the threats to country from "foreigner" churches, fast-multiplying Muslims, multi-nationals, corruption and degradation of women in cinema, television and advertisements.
One pamphlet said, "This worrisome situation is the result of cutting India's polity from pure Hindu nationality." It goes on to say Indians are burdened with "anti- Hindu political leadership"
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