The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, known the world over as the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has now put the relationship in reverse gear saying ayu mein to bacche hum hain (BJP leaders are senior to us in age).
The remark was made by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, who recently took charge of the organisation at a time when a huge crisis of credibility and communication has overtaken the BJP. Instead of sending the signal that the RSS was on top of the situation, Bhagwat, addressing his first press conference, said the RSS does not interfere in BJP's affairs.
He went to the extent of saying that the BJP has to resolve its own crisis, 'but if they come to us for advice we will give them advice'.
The RSS chief however indicated that there was concern within the outfit on what was happening within the BJP.
Bhagwat said what was happening was not good and hoped that the latter would be able to resolve the crisis, "think and decide its own future". But Bhagwat was also optimistic that the BJP would be able to come out of its current crisis and that there was no question of its patan (demise).
Most of the questions were focused on the fate of senior leader L K Advani, Jaswant Singh's expulsion and his book on Jinnah, and the role the RSS was playing in resolving the crisis.
The RSS chief, who is known to have shared a very positive and good relationship with Advani, indicated that the leader of the opposition had not come to ask him for advice but said "that if he does then that advice would be given".
The RSS does not interfere or control or dictate the day-to-day functioning of the political party, Bhagwat said, adding that they neither had the time nor the inclination for backseat driving.
On a question about attacks by BJP leaders on Advani regarding the Kandhar hijacking, the RSS chief said: "I am sure Advani is quite capable of replying to what has been said and I am sure he will reply to what has been said."
This is being read as an indicator that he is in touch with his old friend though so far Advani has not met Bhagwat.
Interestingly, while the anti-Advani camp leaders had been meeting Bhagwat all these days, the stream of leaders who called on him on Friday -- Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Venkaiah Naidu -- were all from the Advani 'camp'.
But Bhagwat did repeatedly make it clear that he stood by what he had said in the interview to Times Now channel where he had spoken about the crisis in the BJP and what he expected them to do. The channel was picked by the RSS bosses to air the chief's message to the BJP that there is serious concern at what is happening and that the BJP should get its act together.
But instead of that happening, the infighting within the BJP has only intensified after the interview and continues to rage on irrespective of what the RSS wants. There is a certain level of discomfort within the BJP with the RSS amid speculation that one section may like to chart its own course, if it can muster enough support.
With the RSS looking more and more helpless, the RSS chief also tried to dispel the impression that they were helpless and mute spectators.
When asked why they had blindfolded themselves when the BJP had pushed the self-destruct button, he said, har baar bhoomika nazar nahin aati (the roles are not apparent every time) in a clear signal to the cadre that they were trying to act, but so far to little avail considering that with each passing day the crisis has only worsened.
Once again, the RSS chief pushed the age envelope of its leaders saying that while 55-60 was their yardstick it is for the political party to decide what is right and he did not want to add to that. He was not even willing to say whether Sangh was happy or unhappy at what was happening.
But the RSS chief, who heads a countrywide army of volunteers who attend shakhas and preach the doctrine of Hindutva, said he was sure "it will rise from the ashes" and that the crisis will soon pass. But so far, even a leader like Vasundhara Raje has been able to defy the diktat of the Sangh, which is known to have been unhappy with her leadership in Rajasthan.
Interestingly, the RSS chief was high praise for Arun Shourie, calling him a respected senior and intellectual leader even as he rejected his suggestion that the RSS take charge of the BJP. He said, "The sangh has its own tasks that will be done by the sangh. If the party wants help and advice we will give it".
Bhagwat also refrained from commenting on the expulsion of former Union minister Jaswant Singh from the BJP for his book on founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah, saying he had not read the book.
BJP President Rajnath Singh had called on Bhagwat on Thursday night for a one-and-a-half hour meeting.
Irrespective of whether the BJP survives in its present for or not, which Bhagwat believes it will, the RSS chief has set a time frame of 25 to 30 years to bring the Hindu Samaj together. For the moment, the task appears to be to bring the Sangh Parivar together.
