Puducherry saw BJP ministers of the NR Congress-led National Democratic Alliance government wearing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) uniform on October 2, Gandhi Jayanthi – a sight that is uncommon in south India. Home Minister A Namassivayam and Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar participated in the RSS march held on October 2. BJP Puducherry President V Saminathan was also present in the rally. Hundreds of RSS cadres participated in this rally. It was seen as a politically significant moment in the Union Territory as neighbouring Tamil Nadu had not permitted the RSS rally that was scheduled to be held the same day.
Meanwhile, members of the Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance (SDPA) formed a human chain to counter the RSS rally. The human chain saw former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, MP V Vaithilingam, Pradesh Congress Committee president AV Subramaniam, Leader of the Opposition R Siva and members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Left parties take part.
Speaking to TNM, former CM Narayanasamy said, “People came from other states to participate in the rally. But there is no reason to have an RSS rally in Puducherry today.” Pointing out that Nathuram Godse, who killed Gandhi was an RSS man, Narayanasamy said, “But the RSS is now conducting rallies on Gandhi’s birth anniversary.”
Narayanasamy also went on to hit out at Namassivayam, who was once his former cabinet colleague and a member of Congress before moving to the BJP in 2021. “He was in Congress once, now he is with BJP and wants to show loyalty to the RSS which they will never acknowledge. He has nothing to do with RSS and doesn't know anything about the organisation.”
But is it unconstitutional for a cabinet minister, who has taken an oath in allegiance to the Constitution, to take part in the RSS rally?
"It may not be legally punishable but still they should have desisted from being a part of RSS procession," said R Mani, a senior journalist, and political analyst. "It was nauseating to see the ministers in the RSS uniform. If they want to roam the streets in such attire, they can resign the minister posts and roam freely," he added, calling it a dangerous stunt.
Puducherry Ministers clad in RSS uniforms and lead rally (Image Courtesy - PYDMKITWING/TWITTER)
Narayanasamy accused the BJP and RSS of having no respect for the Constitution. “So Namassivayam participated in the rally and they have conducted this rally when the UT is facing a severe political crisis, administration crisis, and law and order issue as the relationship between both NR Congress and the BJP escalates to the floor test for proving majority,” he said.
Referring to the Tamil Nadu government’s move to not permit the RSS rally on Gandhi Jayanthi, Mani said, “Banning the RSS procession cannot be the permanent solution in the southern states as the organisation is not banned and political parties who oppose the RSS cannot stand behind the police force and try to stop the procession. You can stop the growth of the organisation only by facing them and taking them head-on politically."
However, Mani said RSS’ move to conduct the rally on October 2 was not an accident. "It is to change the perspective of people on RSS about their link with Gandhi's assassination. They chose this date, deliberately, to impress the common public. But everybody knows who Nathuram Godse is. They chose that day to solidly drive a point that they want to change their perspective and want to conduct the procession," he explained.
Watch: Why RSS and BJP are desperate in gaining foothold in Tamil Nadu?
On September 22, the Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to permit the RSS to hold the rally on Gandhi Jayanthi. However, the DMK government then approached the court citing intelligence reports from central agencies indicating potential law and order issues after the Popular Front of India (PFI) was banned. RSS then approached the court by filing a contempt petition against government officials and the police for not permitting the organisation to hold the rally. On September 30, a single-judge bench of Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan directed the police to permit RSS to hold the rally on November 6. It is to be noted that RSS activists conducted a march in Chennai to commemorate the anniversary of four national figures, namely, Saint Ramanuja, Guru Gobind Singh, B R Ambedkar, and Subhas Chandra Bose in January 2017, when AIADMK’s O Panneerselvam was Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It was held 16 years after RSS conducted a rally in Chennai. The same year, RSS held a Vijayadasami rally for the first time in Madurai to commemorate its 93rd foundation day.