New Delhi: Tamil Nadu is witnessing a battle of ideologies play out between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Dravidian outfits, with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) popping out with copies of Manusmriti to spotlight the varna system that it alleges is a part of the Sangh ideology.
On Sunday, the VCK distributed 1 lakh copies of Manusmriti highlighting the scripture’s views on Dalits and girls. An ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led authorities, the Dalit outfit printed copies of pages and chapters from Manusmriti and distributed these amongst individuals as part of its particular marketing campaign towards the RSS.
Thol. Thirumavalavan’s social gathering claimed to have “uncovered” the concepts of Sangh, which is claimed to have drawn its inspiration from Hindu scriptures together with Manusmriti, saying the traditional Hindu texts listing the duties and rights of girls in a regressive method and referred to as the standing of Dalits in a society as “outcasts”.
In Tamil Nadu, the RSS has intensified its actions, as a part of which it deliberate to organise 50 route marches on November 6 throughout numerous districts. It was denied permission by the DMK authorities following which the matter reached the Madras Excessive Court docket.
Although the Sangh was allowed to carry marches in 44 locations, the excessive courtroom denied permission in six communally delicate locations, together with Coimbatore the place a blast killed a suspected terror operative final month. On Sunday, RSS carried out marches and public conferences in Kallakurichi, Perambalur, and Cuddalore.
Senior RSS functionaries claimed that the route marches had been organised to mark their centenary programmes and Mahatma Gandhi’s start anniversary.
“They [the ruling parties] are portraying us because the enemy of the individuals. That is actually uncalled for. The RSS route marches aren’t unruly as different political events. These are disciplined cadres and so they conduct marches in a disciplined method. However the political social gathering [DMK] in Tamil Nadu at all times tries to cease us, and so they put ahead totally different fronts. This time, they [DMK] are utilizing one other entrance [VCK] to fireside,” an RSS central committee member mentioned.
VCK basic secretary and MP D. Ravikumar instructed ThePrint that the social gathering took up some counter programmes as “we don’t want the RSS to impose its Hindutva ideology on the individuals”.
“They mentioned that they’re organising the route marches to mark Gandhi’s start centenary. Isn’t it ridiculous for the Gandhi killers to organise programmes to rejoice his start anniversary?
“In lots of locations, the Sangh functionaries abused Gandhi and Ambedkar. They’re the worst divisive drive India has. They simply need to polarise within the identify of faith and caste. And everytime, simply to ascertain the BJP, they need to exploit Dalits and tribals,” he alleged.
However, RSS publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar asserted that the Sangh was a law-abiding organisation. “We’re connecting with individuals. We’ll proceed with our social work within the service of the nation,” he instructed ThePrint.
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Renewed push by RSS
Although the RSS has been energetic in Tamil Nadu because the Nineties, it existed within the state for the previous 60 years. Its ideological protege, the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP), has remained on the political margins. The social gathering received solely 4 meeting seats in 2021.
“RSS has at all times been there for the previous 5 to 6 many years, however it largely invested in social work. Nonetheless, the scenario has modified now. The DMK and the Periyarist events are usually anti-Tamil and anti-Hindu. They’re spreading lies in regards to the nation, and damaging nationwide curiosity. Terrorist actions are being seen and the phobia teams are being sheltered. For this reason the RSS wants to come back on the fore, and mobilise its cadres. individuals have realised it now and we’re getting good responses,” Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president P. Kanagasabapathi claimed.
“VCK is enjoying a really damaging function. They’re defaming Hindutva and the traditional tradition of Tamil Nadu,” he instructed ThePrint.
Political observers highlighted that the Sangh has began a renewed push in Tamil Nadu by organising programmes and mobilising cadres via route marches to current the BJP-RSS mixture as a drive to reckon with.
The saffron brigade needs to occupy the opposition house within the absence of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), averred Ramu Manivannan, Head of the Division of Politics & Public Administration, College of Madras.
It’s on this backdrop {that a} DMK ally has began this Manusmriti motion to make individuals conscious of the Sangh ideology and to “limit radicalisation”, he mentioned.
Drawing its affect from social reformer Periyar who fought towards caste discrimination and stood for ladies’s rights, Dravidian politics has revolved round anti-Brahminism.
“That’s how the RSS, regardless of its presence in Tamil Nadu for the previous six many years, has remained confined to areas like Modakurichi, Coimbatore, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. Prior to now 5 to 6 years, the RSS and associates had tried to deliver the type of Hindutva politics within the state by introducing Vinayak Chaturthi and different comparable occasions, however they’re but to get a optimistic response from the individuals,” Manivannan added.
This comes at a time when the Sangh is attacking the DMK, calling it an “ally of PFI [Popular Front of India] and different Islamist militant teams”. After the Coimbatore blast, the RSS has grow to be extra aggressive with its actions, together with organising route marches.
With the RSS-DMK tussle occurring in Tamil Nadu, political observer Ramu Manivannan feels that the BJP “systematically dismantled and ruined AIADMK” and now the social gathering is attempting to be “politically seen” via the Sangh.
“The BJP-RSS mixture is attempting very arduous to be seen within the state as an alternative choice to the AIADMK and the first opposition to the DMK. They completed the AIADMK systematically by bringing factionalism, placing one chief towards one other. At the moment, the Governor is enjoying the function of the opposition within the state,” Manivannan mentioned.
“The social gathering in energy at centre has a deep penetration by way of strategic data. They’re enjoying with that and the RSS is attempting to deliver Maharashtra and north India-kind of politics. The state is primarily Hindu dominated, however it by no means had a historical past of communal politics. It has secular material all throughout. RSS’ actions are socio-cultural-political actions.”
The VCK’s counter assault could be seen as a resistance, the educational mentioned. “The state has already been rationalist, and so they voted for his or her political decisions. However, they by no means inspired any communal ideology right here.”
The M. Okay. Stalin-led ruling social gathering is robust in Tamil Nadu due to the unprecedented fall of the Opposition events, Kanagasabapathi, additionally an knowledgeable of India-centric research, mentioned, relating to the DMK’s electoral good points and marginal house for saffron politics. “However, DMK is a celebration that solely thrives on coalition. It by no means obtained a majority by itself up to now 30 years,” he added.
From 1992 onwards, the DMK has received in 1996, 2006 and 2021 in Tamil Nadu. It has fashioned coalition alliances with events starting from the Tamil Maanila Congress, the CPI to the Congress, the VCK.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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