In March 2015, after a meeting of the RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha in Nagpur, the body adopted a resolution to promote policies that transcend caste differences in Hindu society. “One well, one temple and one crematorium” for all was the aim.
Incidents of cow vigilantism targeting Dalits and more recently caste violence following events at Koregaon-Bhima have demonstrated that the organisation is a long way from getting its messaging right.
The incidents following Koregaon-Bhima and allegations that Hindutva outfits were involved in violence against Dalits have however impelled the RSS to undertake a period of regrouping, as its whole Dalit project could derail if events got out of hand. “Over the last week, in every State, under the auspices of the RSS prant karyavahs a meeting of all frontal organisations associated with us was called, from Vishwa Hindu Parishad to the BJP, especially those who worked closely with Dalit outfits, and communities like the Valmiki Samaj and the Jatav Samaj,” said a senior source in the RSS.
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At least three such meetings were held in Delhi itself, one on Sunday at the RSS headquarters.
“The basic message from all these meetings has been that other than just our district samaajik samarasta (social harmony) teams, all organisations should be aware of any small or local incident of conflict between communities and try and resolve it before it becomes a conflagration,” said the source.
“For us oppression of Dalits is a flaw of Hinduism and has to be dealt with for the sake of Hinduism as well,” added the source.
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“Some parties are trying to fashion a Dalit-Muslim solidarity which is basically a political formation or alliance and not something that will address the issues faced by Dalits in cities and villages. It (Dalit oppression) is an issue that has to be addressed by Hindu society and a scourge that has to be rooted out. It has nothing to do with the condition of Muslim community in India,” he said.
The BJP has gained from widespread Dalit support in the 2014 general elections and in the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Incidents like Bhim-Koregaon have been identified as a spoke in the wheel of Hindu consolidation.