06-24-2006, 05:59 AM
<b>RSS to BJP: shed personality cult</b>
Special Correspondent
Need for collective decision-making
# Supremacy of ideology, the party organisation and a disciplined cadre recommended
# Disapproval of handful of leaders taking decisions
NEW DELHI: The two-day interaction between the top leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party on issues related to coordination among the various RSS affiliates concluded here on Friday with the RSS reportedly taking a firm stand that the BJP should move away from personality cults. The meeting took place at the residence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A senior party leader said the discussions were confined to areas of concern to the two organisations. This had mainly to do with "coordination" among Sangh affiliates, especially with an eye on the next round of Assembly elections, including in Uttar Pradesh.
The meeting was described as a "routine" and "regular" affair, a mechanism through which the RSS keeps abreast of developments within the BJP, one of its largest organisations. <b>The RSS has been keen that the BJP move away from politics based on personality cults built around the two big leaders, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. L.K. Advani. It has recommended supremacy of ideology, the party organisation and a disciplined cadre.</b>
Some "corrections" have already been carried out by the BJP on issues like abrogation of Article 360 of the Constitution relating to the special status for Jammu and Kashmir again being taken up by the BJP after the matter was virtually put into cold storage during the six-year period from 1998 when the BJP headed the government at the Centre.
On the Jinnah episode related to Mr. Advani the RSS was able to get Mr. Advani to leave the post of party president as it sent the message out of no compromise or tinkering with ideology. Mr. Advani was made to pay for flouting that rule.
The RSS has reportedly expressed its disapproval of a handful of leaders meeting and taking decisions instead of through the formal "collective" process of decision-making. Once again, this insistence is being seen as finger-pointing in the direction of Mr. Advani who had recently on several occasions convened meetings at his residence in the absence of the party president and announced decisions.
Firmer grasp for RSS
The recent amendment to the BJP's constitution has already strengthened the hands of the `pracharaks' in the party who come to it via the RSS and who maintain a close link with the parent organisation. This will automatically give the RSS a firmer grasp over the BJP's party machine.
This meeting precedes a larger "samanvay baithak" or coordination committee meeting between the RSS and all its affiliates expected to take place this month-end. Issues relevant to the RSS and the BJP, which would be further discussed at the next meeting, were apparently identified at the two-day meeting that ended on Friday.
Special Correspondent
Need for collective decision-making
# Supremacy of ideology, the party organisation and a disciplined cadre recommended
# Disapproval of handful of leaders taking decisions
NEW DELHI: The two-day interaction between the top leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party on issues related to coordination among the various RSS affiliates concluded here on Friday with the RSS reportedly taking a firm stand that the BJP should move away from personality cults. The meeting took place at the residence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A senior party leader said the discussions were confined to areas of concern to the two organisations. This had mainly to do with "coordination" among Sangh affiliates, especially with an eye on the next round of Assembly elections, including in Uttar Pradesh.
The meeting was described as a "routine" and "regular" affair, a mechanism through which the RSS keeps abreast of developments within the BJP, one of its largest organisations. <b>The RSS has been keen that the BJP move away from politics based on personality cults built around the two big leaders, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. L.K. Advani. It has recommended supremacy of ideology, the party organisation and a disciplined cadre.</b>
Some "corrections" have already been carried out by the BJP on issues like abrogation of Article 360 of the Constitution relating to the special status for Jammu and Kashmir again being taken up by the BJP after the matter was virtually put into cold storage during the six-year period from 1998 when the BJP headed the government at the Centre.
On the Jinnah episode related to Mr. Advani the RSS was able to get Mr. Advani to leave the post of party president as it sent the message out of no compromise or tinkering with ideology. Mr. Advani was made to pay for flouting that rule.
The RSS has reportedly expressed its disapproval of a handful of leaders meeting and taking decisions instead of through the formal "collective" process of decision-making. Once again, this insistence is being seen as finger-pointing in the direction of Mr. Advani who had recently on several occasions convened meetings at his residence in the absence of the party president and announced decisions.
Firmer grasp for RSS
The recent amendment to the BJP's constitution has already strengthened the hands of the `pracharaks' in the party who come to it via the RSS and who maintain a close link with the parent organisation. This will automatically give the RSS a firmer grasp over the BJP's party machine.
This meeting precedes a larger "samanvay baithak" or coordination committee meeting between the RSS and all its affiliates expected to take place this month-end. Issues relevant to the RSS and the BJP, which would be further discussed at the next meeting, were apparently identified at the two-day meeting that ended on Friday.