RSS Roadmap

The three-day meeting of the All-India Pratinidhi Sabha (representatives’ meeting) of RSS in Bengaluru ended with the organisation outlining its focus on increasing the effectiveness of its organisational activities in its centenary year as well as speaking its mind on issues such as the glorification of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the demands for the removal of the monarch’s tomb. The Sangh was clear that demands for the relocation of the tomb are unnecessary but was forthright in stating that the mindset that supported the ideologies of invaders was harmful for the country. This was RSS’ way of saying that endorsing the actions of Aurangzeb, known for his zealous and intolerant ways, was tantamount to promotion of divisive sentiments. The internal focus on ensuring volunteers are engaged in some activity or the other was intended to deepen the Sangh’s civic commitment and pursue its view of cultural nationalism. The objective, said Sangh leaders, was social cohesion and national reawakening and would involve more efforts to inform public opinion on RSS and its mission. The meeting was scathing in criticising the Karnataka government’s decision to set aside a quota for Muslim contractors, saying this is tokenism that does not benefit the minority community while creating divisions between communities. The agenda of the RSS meeting made it clear that discussion on the 2024 Lok Sabha results was now a closed chapter with BJP’s subsequent electoral successes in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi making it evident that the party has arrested and reversed any decline in its popularity.

Rahul Gandhi Goes Missing

 

Usually Parliament provides opportunities for the Opposition to raise issues critical of the government but the week began with MPs from the treasury benches on the offensive over statements by a Congress leader suggesting that the constitutional bar on religion-based reservations was not permanent. On March 24, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal referred to the absence of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and allowed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement lambasting Congress. “I would have allowed the LoP… But where is he?” he asked Congress MPs.

Closer To America

 

While the Trump administration continues to make “unfair” tariffs a major part of its political discourse, the possibility of India-specific actions is receding. Negotiators are working out a trade arrangement, if not a deal, that can be announced by year-end. The focus on reducing tariffs is being complemented by efforts to deepen cooperation between of the two economies in various sectors, including agriculture. US desire for lower entry barriers for its agricultural products could go with development and transfer of farm technologies as well as cooperation in R&D. While successive governments have increased budgets for agriculture in India, the sector is need for large investments that require private participation.

People’s Budget

The week-long session of the Delhi assembly saw the presentation of the first state budget by the new BJP government headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who said thousands of suggestions were scanned in order to prepare a “people’s budget” and ensured the promise of a `2,500 payout to eligible women found prominent mention. The BJP leadership was keen to ensure the promise was speedily implemented unlike in the case of the previous AAP government that announced such a scheme in March 2024 but did not move on it.

BJP Chooses Kerala Chief

BJP has made its decision about its Kerala unit chief. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is set to take charge. The articulate leader, who was a successful businessman before he joined politics, is expected to provide BJP with a face identifiable to urban voters. He gave Congress leader Shashi Tharoor a close run in the Lok Sabha election from Thiruvananthapuram. Seen as a moderniser, his belief in investment and capital-led growth sets him apart in a state influenced by powerful unions and governance quotas within ruling alliances.

Farm Unions Hit a Rock

Punjab Police’s action, in coordination with their Haryana counterparts, to vacate the blockade caused by farm unions demanding a legislative guarantee for MSP for crops has not been greeted by any significant criticism. Activists like Yogendra Yadav, who were at the forefront of the stir, are hardly to be seen. Farmer leaders announced they would not seek bail but even this didn’t generate any sympathy. The surest evidence of farm unions losing public sympathy is the manner, often bordering on approval, in which local Hindi dailies reported the sequence of events. It seems the blockades did more harm than good for the unions.

Yoga on a Living Bridge

In a fusion of tradition, nature and well-being, yoga enthusiasts unrolled their mats on and around one of India’s natural marvels—the ‘Double Decker Living Root Bridge’ in Meghalaya. Against a backdrop of misty hills and waterfalls, the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) organised a one-of-a-kind yoga session as part of the countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. The Living Root Bridge is woven entirely from aerial roots of rubber fig trees, creating a breathing pathway that has grown stronger with time and aligns with the wonders of nature.

AurangzebDelhi BudgetDelhi governmentIndian politicsRahul GandhiRajeev ChandrasekharRSS