Even as debates and protests erupt around the country over public lynchings occurring in various parts, the RSS is setting out to make Kerala a ‘peaceful’ state.
In an interesting development, the RSS has decided to involve itself in a peace-building mission in the state, one which aims to bring together influential social, political and other public figures in the state.
The Organiser, the RSS mouthpiece, is organising a seminar titled ‘In Search of Peace’ in Kozhikode on July 1 in this regard. The focus of the peace-building task will be Kannur district.
The seminar is being put together by a group of RSS leaders who are active on the cultural front and are known in intellectual circles. An organising committee with noted historian MGS Narayanan at its head has been formed for this.
“This is a media initiative. The violence has been happening for decades in Kannur, be it between RSS and CPI (M) or BJP and CPI (M). But the fact is that the violence has a long history. Many Congress and Muslim League workers were also killed. We are not interested in blame games, but finally want to come up with a solution,” Organiser editor Prafulla Ketkar told TNM.
Asked if the peace-building initiative was a part of the BJP’s efforts to gain more support in Kerala in the next Lok Sabha elections, Ketkar said that the BJP was not in the picture so far as the conference was concerned. “I have met the BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, as I met any other leader of any other political party. The BJP has no role in it. The RSS is already rooted in the state, with the maximum number of sakhas,” he said.
On the question of the recently reported series of violent events in various parts of the country, Ketkar said, “It’s not that such incidents are happening frequently now, but they are being reported quite often. We are keen on having a local dialogue. We are going beyond politics. We need some sustainable efforts to finally end all this.”
Ketkar said that he has already met the CPI (M), the CPI, the Congress and a number of other political party leaders. He added that he was currently trying to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in order to ensure his participation in the seminar too.
However, KPCC president MM Hassan said that the Congress has not yet decided if it should any of its representatives to the event. “Dialogue for peace-making is ok. But I doubt how genuine the RSS is in its effort. How can an organisation like that initiate such a task?” asked Hassan.