RSS, VHP emerging as opposition to Modi: Sudheendra Kulkarni

The News Minute | December 21, 2014 | 9.26 am IST(Last updated: 10.24 am IST)If the reports in Marathi dailies including Maharashtra Times are true, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have, in a departure from his projected image, thrown a tantrum.According to those reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to have threatened to quit if the Sangh Parivar’s leaders don’t leash their wagging tongues.India Today magazine quotes Marathi newspaper Maharashtra Times, as saying that Modi reportedly told the senior leadership of the RSS that the government’s image was taking a beating on account of irresponsible statements made by some leaders. Such remarks would tarnish the image of the government and paint its leaders as fanatics, the report said. It appears that the BJP has suddenly hit a patch of turbulent waters – its over-zealous leaders who have been openly talking about re-converting Muslims and Christians into Hindus. But even as this remark of threatening to quit was purportedly made, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called India a Hindu rashtra and said that the Sangh Parivar would “bring back stolen property” and whatever had been “looted”.Writing for IANS, political analyst Amulya Ganguly said that although Modi had managed to keep people like Pravin Togadia in check in Gujarat, he appeared to be having trouble doing the same at the national level. Added to all this, a former close aide of BJP stalwarts L K Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee Sudheendra Kulkarni, has added his bit of advice / analysis to the debate.Known of being an ardent supporter of the BJP, Kulkarni has nonetheless not been afraid to ruffle feathers. He has in the past criticized the party and its leadership, but “distanced” himself from the party over “ideological” differences after Jaswant Singh was expelled.He tweeted on Sunday morning: “1.If #RSS & #VHP do not show self-restraint, they're bound to create trouble for PM #Modi & his govt. Bad for India and nation's development”1.If #RSS & #VHP do not show self-restraint, they're bound to create trouble for PM #Modi & his govt. Bad for India and nation's development— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) December 21, 2014#RSS chief #Bhagwat calls #Pakistan 'Bharat Bhoomi'. Does PM #Modi agree? It goes against the stated positions of all Indian governments.— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) December 21, 2014PM #Modi doesn't need - and doesn't have - opposition.At this rate, #RSS & #VHP are fast emerging as the internal, DESTABILISING, opposition— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) December 21, 2014