Senior government and BJP leaders rush to meet RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

NEW DELHI: Senior government and BJP leaders are rushing to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat these days, in what’s being described as ‘confabulation’ after the first year anniversary of the NDA government.

While these ministers are clocking up ‘frequent flier’ miles on the Delhi-Nagpur sector, sources within the party describe these meetings as an exercise on getting feedback about the NDA government’s performance, one year into office.

“In the beginning, RSS was clear that the government had to deliver on the economy. Now, the narrative seems to be skewed in favour of the land bill and suit boot ki sarkar. Which is why the Parivar needs to come to grips to it,” the source added.



Home minister Rajnath Singh dashed off to Nagpur on Thursday last to meet Bhagwat, followed by BJP chief Amit Shah, who travelled to Nagpur on Saturday. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar is scheduled to visit Bhagwat on Monday, while ex-NDA minister MM Joshi will also travel to Nagpur this week. The meeting of ministers such as Gadkari, Parrikar, Shah and Joshi points to the fact that RSS has been expressing its worries over various issues facing the government and party.

“While day-to-day instructions are never given nor sought, it’s been a year and there are several issues that need to be discussed,” said a person familiar with the developments inside BJP. “There’s a feeling in RSS that while some of its Hindutva agenda has gained prominence, it has been sidelined on the economic agenda,” he added.

Aides of Singh, however, dismissed any serious discussions on the NDA government between him and Bhagwat, merely saying that he was visiting Nagpur for a meeting on Naxalism, and having discovered that Bhagwat was in town, decided to call on him. According to top sources in the party, at least “two other ministers” are also expected to land up in Nagpur in the coming days.