Bhagwat flashes proactive intent - Sangh circles read in speech course-correction signal on economy

J.P. Yadav, TT, New Delhi, Oct. 2:  The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will now play a more proactive role in governance and deny the Narendra Modi government a free rein in spheres such as the economy and education, many in the organisation believe.

Their inference is based on Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's annual Vijaya Dashami speech on Saturday, which is being seen in parivar circles as a report card on the government's performance, citing shortcomings and providing direction.

"If you go through the speech closely, you will see that Bhagwatji praised the Modi government where it deserves praise but was extremely critical of its failures. For instance, on the economic front, the message was clear that the government was not on the right track and needed to correct its course," a Sangh source said.

The Sangh has also been increasingly concerned about what it sees as a growing personality cult in the government and the party, where Modi and BJP president Amit Shah reign supreme.

One clear hint in Bhagwat's speech was that the government's two most hyped economic moves, demonetisation and the goods and services tax, had hit the medium and small traders who form the Sangh-BJP's support base and aggravated unemployment.

He did not mention either the note recall or the GST but underlined the crisis facing medium and small businesses, which he said formed the backbone of the economy as they provided jobs to the poor.

His comments came just two days after former finance minister and BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha tore into the government for the economic "mess", particularly targeting the demonetisation and the GST.

"Employment --- that is, work for every hand --- and enough remuneration for sustainable livelihood is a major consideration for us. On these parameters, the biggest contribution is made by the small, medium and handicraft industries, retail and small self-employed businesses, the cooperative sector and the agro-allied sector," Bhagwat said.

"Crores of people get jobs or employment through these sectors. Most people standing in the last line of society are from these sectors. While moving ahead from the present economic condition, this fundamental point should be remembered."

Sources in the Sangh said the last bit was a clear warning to the government.

The Sangh had already alerted the government about a change in the public mood because of the economic slowdown, as reported by this newspaper on September 14. Now, sources said, the organisation wanted to play a more proactive role in governance.

"The BJP is one of the Sangh's many frontal organisations, and the parent organisation believes that it must put the party and the government on the right track in the national interest," a Sangh official said.

Bhagwat had also underlined the agrarian distress and sent out the message that ignoring the farmers could cost the party.

"Our farmer, who feeds not just his family but the entire nation, is in pain today. He is depressed after facing an onslaught from floods and droughts, the export-import policy, meagre pricing and mounting loans. He is losing everything once the crop is ruined," he said.

Bhagwat praised the loan waivers offered by states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as "signs of sensitivity and goodwill" but stressed that "these temporary measures are not a solution".

He asked the states to buy more crop from farmers at the support price.

On education, he expressed concern that "Indian culture" was facing an onslaught from "the western model" and said the government should formulate policies based on "Bharatiya values".

Bhagwat will be in Delhi on October 6 to meet eminent people, including several economists and retired bureaucrats, to receive feedback on the economy.