Isn’t RSS and nationalism an oxymoron, says Pranab Mukherjee’s office

"Isn't it an oxymoron," replied a spokesperson from former President Pranab Mukherjee's office, when questioned if Mukherjee would dwell on "RSS' version of nationalism' during his speech on June 7. Just hours before his address, the spokesperson had revealed to National Herald that the speech would be themed on “Nation, Nationalism and Patriotism” as former Congressman Pranab Mukherjee viewed these concepts.

Justifying Mukherjee’s remarks on RSS founder KB Hegdewar, who Mukherjee called a “great son of India” during his Nagpur visit, his office said, "What does one say of a dead man, especially one who has been the Organising Committee Chairman for the AICC Session in 1920?"

The former career Congressmen indeed went on to deliver a speech about the supremacy of the Constitution and secularism, rejecting the aggressive and divisive nationalism often associated with backers of the current government.

But both his visit and speech continue to leave observers divided, with some praising Mukherjee’s speech as a true reflection of India’s secular ethos, while others slammed his endorsement of RSS founders and photo-ops with the RSS leadership.

RSS backers’ expectations belied, Congress relieved

Before Mukherjee spoke in Nagpur, backers of the RSS saw his acceptance of the RSS invitation as a possible sign of his changing political priorities. Two hours before his scheduled address, Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) international joint secretary Dr Surendra Jain told NH during an interaction, "Can Pranabda not change his views? Is he not allowed to change his views? He should be allowed to form his own opinion and not be bonded to the thinking of Congress party." The testy remark was in response to a question about Mukherjee branding RSS a Hindu terrorist organisation back in 2010.

"It is very significant for our democracy and our secularism. The RSS doesn't believe in political untouchability and social untouchability," Jain went on, as he tried to explain the significance of Mukherjee’s acceptance of the invitation. Jain’s thoughts had been echoed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari earlier in the week.

The Congress party, which had been on tenterhooks over the last week, on its part came out with a statement praising Mukherjee for showing a “mirror to the RSS” after his speech concluded. “Pranab Mukherjee reminded RSS of India’s ‘pluralism’, ‘tolerance’, ‘secularism’ and ‘inclusiveness’ as an article of faith and soul of the country, said the Congress. But a section of Congress leaders, including Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee, remain doubtful of his decision, saying that the visuals from Nagpur have given enough ammunition to the BJP-RSS to exploit politically. Indeed, within a few hours of his speech, a morphed photo showing Mukherjee in RSS unfiorm, giving the RSS salute, went viral.

West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, considered close to Pranab Mukherjee, echoed the sentiments of many when he wondered why the former President had to wade into a situation with so much potential for controversy in the first place: "Whatever he has said is nothing new. In his last address as President also, he had spoken about pluralism and co-existence of all. Why did he have to go to Nagpur to say all these old matters? Why did he have to rake in so much controversy? I don't think there was any need."