Latest news with #KaryakartaVikasVarg-DwithiyaSamapanSamaroh
The Print
2 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Ex-Congress minister who worked with Indira, Narasimha Rao, heads to RSS HQ to ‘bridge Sangh-tribals gap'
Speaking to ThePrint, the 83-year-old criticised the Chhattisgarh unit of the Congress, which expressed surprise over the tribal leader's acceptance of the RSS invite. Netam, an influential tribal voice in Chhattisgarh politics who served in the cabinets of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao, had quit the Congress ahead of the 2023 Chhattisgarh assembly elections, accusing the party of sidelining tribal leaders and ignoring tribal issues. He later launched the Hamar Raj Party, which has so far performed poorly in polls. New Delhi: On his way to Nagpur to attend a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh event, former Congress leader and Union minister Arvind Netam Tuesday said that initiating dialogue with the Sangh, 'which works for the national cause', is essential to bridging the gap between the organisation and indigenous communities. 'On what grounds are they commenting on my decision? The state Congress unit is neck deep in corruption. Are they working for the upliftment of the nation? Had they been doing so, I would have gone with them, too. I will naturally engage with those who are involved in ideological discussions and debates,' Netam said. 'Take the issue of conversion. Where does the Congress stand? Why did the Congress not properly implement the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act? Then, there is the issue of displacement.' Netam is slated to speak at the Sangh's 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg-Dwithiya Samapan Samaroh'—essentially the closing ceremony of the organisation's second-level training camp—on 5 June as the chief guest. Former president Pranab Mukherjee's decision to attend the same event in 2018 had upset the Congress high command. The leader said that he had first met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat around four months ago. He added that he has distanced himself from politics over the last few years. 'I am not going to join the Sangh. I work for society. And we know the situation our society finds itself in ever since the liberalisation process took place. I felt it was necessary to establish a dialogue with the Sangh, keeping that concern in mind,' he told ThePrint. 'Only dialogue and exchange of ideas may help bridge the gap that exists between RSS and indigenous communities. And it will be beneficial for the society at large, too. After all, the Sangh works for nation and social development.' Netam further said that during his visit, he plans to raise the demand for a separate code for tribals in the next population census—an issue on which the Sangh has a different view. 'I know they have reservations, but how does one make efforts to resolve the differences of opinion unless there is a dialogue?' It has been a long standing demand of various tribal communities, which do not consider themselves as members of organised religion like Hinduism, Islam or Christianity, to have a provision for enlisting themselves as 'Others' in the decennial census. However, the RSS, whose affiliate Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram works among tribals, considers indigenous communities as part of the larger fold of the Sanatan Dharma. Netam's Hamar Raj party may have failed so far to make any electoral splash, but its candidate polled more votes than the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory margin over the Congress in the Kanker parliamentary seat, which Netam represented in the past, in the 2024 general elections. 'Look, I have retired from politics, and am no longer heading the party. But setting up a regional party is also one way to raise societal consciousness and awareness. National parties cannot do that. Only regional outfits can. It's an experiment that has happened across the country. The Congress should realise that it lost due to its sins,' he remarked. The Congress had swept to power in the 2018 assembly elections, based on a strong showing in the state's seats reserved for tribals. The party had won 25 of the 29 seats for Scheduled Tribes in the 2018 elections, only to register a steep drop in its tally in the 2023 polls, winning only 11 reserved seats. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Even as INDIA bloc pushes for Parliament session on Pahalgam & Op Sindoor, fault lines evident
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Chhattisgarh tribal leader Arvind Netam heads for RSS event, why it isn't good news for Congress
In Chhattisgarh's political terrain, where tribal votes are a decisive factor, an RSS invitation to senior tribal leader Arvind Netam to an annual event at its Nagpur headquarters has sparked intense speculation. The former Union Minister in Indira Gandhi's Cabinet, who is from the Bastar region, will be the chief guest at the Sangh's 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg-Dwithiya Samapan Samaroh' on June 5. It marks the end of the three-year training period for swayamsevaks, or the Sangh cadre. It is the same event that former President Pranab Mukherjee attended in 2018, leading to criticism from some sections of the Congress. With the invitation leading to questions about political motives, the 83-year-old tribal leader said he planned to attend to maintain good ties with the Sangh and further the cause of tribal rights in Bastar. 'I am going to the RSS event as I want strong communication with the RSS to make them understand tribal issues. The biggest issue right now in Bastar is conversion. I believe if the RSS supports us, then the BJP government will pay heed to our demands. We are the ones who first invited RSS leaders to our tribal event in December last year. Also, months ago, I met Mohan Bhagwat in Raipur and discussed tribal issues,' Netam told The Indian Express. Netam said he would also discuss the need for a separate code for tribals in the Census. 'We have our own culture and religious practices. We do not want to be defined under any religion; we want our code. Due to talks, gradual changes are taking place. They (the RSS) are gradually calling us Adivasi and not Vanvasi,' he said. An influential tribal leader in Bastar, Netam still retains a lot of political heft. Months before the Assembly elections in 2023, he had quit the Congress. This came after he floated his political party, Hamar Raj, which he carved out of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj (SAS), an umbrella group of tribal organisations. At the time, Netam had said the formation of Hamar Raj was similar to that of the Sangh that has '50-odd independent groups under it, including the BJP'. In the elections, the Hamar Raj appeared to have hurt the Congress in at least two Assembly constituencies and is also estimated to have damaged the Congress's chances in the Kanker parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha elections. Netam's apparent move towards the Sangh comes when the Congress is already struggling to regain tribal votes. When the party had stormed to power in 2018, it had swept the Scheduled Tribe (ST)-reserved constituencies, winning 25 of the 29 seats while the BJP had got three. However, failure to effectively address tribal issues led to it losing ground among Adivasis and in 2023, the Congress saw its tally of ST seats drop to 11 while the BJP bagged 17. The Congress, however, argues that even if Netam moves to the BJP, it won't have any adverse effect on its political fortunes. 'He (Netam) took a different political route and left the party. He is a big tribal leader, but we know the RSS's view of tribals. The RSS terms tribals as vanvasi (forest dwellers) and not Adivasi (the oldest inhabitants). So, does Netam agree with this? Politically, it will make no difference in elections … Bastar's public does not support him,' said the party's state communications chief Sushil Anand Shukla. RSS's state media cell in-charge Sanjay Tiwari said Netam was doing 'good work' for tribals and opposed conversions. 'We invite even those who are our critics,' he added. 'Thousands will be attending the event. Many who want to understand the Sangh will also be there.' BJP spokesperson Kedar Gupta said the RSS invitation should not be seen through the political lens. 'There is no political discrimination in the RSS. Before this, Pranab Mukherjee ji was invited and he graced the event. It is a nationalistic organisation that believes in working together with every section of society.'
