Mumbai, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) expressed on Tuesday that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has strayed from its previous “pure and honest” image, now allegedly entangled in the BJP's corruption and unconstitutional practices.

It was claimed that the “mother organization” has either lost its grip over the BJP or is passively benefiting from its actions.

Referring to a discussion held during the RSS centenary event in Mumbai last week and the comments made by RSS chief Dr. Bhagwat, the Thackeray faction in the party's publication 'Saamana' asserted that the BJP and RSS are two sides of the same coin, with the Sangh being a “participant in all the sins” committed by the BJP as the ruling power.

The editorial remarked, “Some statements in his speech were quite bizarre and perplexing. For example, Bhagwat suggested that the RSS is merely a non-governmental organization (NGO) with no direct political involvement. He stated that while PM Modi serves as the Prime Minister, his party is the BJP, and the BJP and RSS are completely distinct entities. He maintained that just because some volunteers are part of the government, it does not imply that the Sangh is in power. Who is Bhagwat trying to deceive? He may mislead those present for a moment, but the nation is not naive.”

It highlighted historical instances, such as the Janata Party's collapse in the 1970s over the “dual membership” controversy, as evidence of the entrenched connections between the two.

The Thackeray camp added that in Delhi, the Sangh's luxurious office was established at Jhandewalan Estate, and a 150-year-old temple was demolished because of inadequate parking space. This occurred due to the arrogance of sharing power with the BJP. “The Sangh is now openly engaged in the BJP's corruption, criminality, and unconstitutional actions. Therefore, they cannot assert a lack of connection with the BJP; claiming the Sangh and BJP are separate is entirely false,” it stated.

The editorial noted that the event witnessed an unexpected presence of high-profile figures, including actors Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, along with various scientists, legal authorities, and industrialists. “Such celebrities were seldom seen at Sangh events prior to the 'Modi era', indicating their presence may be driven by a desire to dodge political conflicts rather than genuine ideological support. Notably, Ranbir Kapoor’s attendance marked a shift from the strong communist legacy of his grandfather, Raj Kapoor,” it added.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena asserted that the BJP has fragmented Hindutva organizations and purchased MLAs and MPs. They have seized control of the nation's judiciary and the Election Commission in a manner reminiscent of “Hitler”.

“While the RSS chief spoke of communal unity, there remains silence among Sangh-associated leaders concerning hate speech and inflammatory actions by BJP Chief Ministers, such as those in Assam. Does Salman’s presence on a Sangh stage indicate that the doors are open for all Muslims? PM Modi, Amit Shah, and CM Fadnavis engage in divisive politics. The CM of Assam displayed a poster of himself targeting Muslims with a gun, yet the 'Sangh's Prime Minister' remains mute. The Assam CM even suggested that Muslim rickshaw pullers should not be paid fare, and the law is powerless,” it stated.

The editorial concluded that despite the dedication of millions of volunteers to uphold the BJP, fundamental ideological objectives, including the establishment of “Akhand Bharat”, conferring the Bharat Ratna to Savarkar, and halting the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, remain unachieved.