The Indian EXPRESS
Arms on show at RSS rally
Milind Ghatwai
Posted online: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 2323 hrs IST
BHOPAL, JANUARY 29
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh broke new ground in Madhya Pradesh on
Sunday when its gun-wielding volunteers fired in the air at the end of
an orderly Path Sanchalan (route march) in Satna town.
The procession of more than 150 volunteers carrying guns, swords and
lathis began from the Sangh office behind the Kotwali Police Station and
concluded at the same spot after a round of the main bazaar as onlookers
watched in awe.
The firing was reserved for the end. "It was the work of some young
volunteers who were overwhelmed by the occasion," explained RSS
prant sanchalak Shankarprasad Tamrakar. "It's not illegal
because all weapons were licensed," he told The Indian Express on
Tuesday.
Tamrakar admitted that firing happened for the first time, but justified
the display of weapons as necessary and integral part of the procession.
Only those volunteers who are part of the Dhwaj Vahini carry weapons, he
claimed.
According to him, the firing took place after everything was over, and
hence, cannot be treated as part of Path Sanchalan. The local
authorities turned a blind eye to the incident saying no one complained
about firing. A local television channel showed volunteers in
celebratory mood loading their guns and firing in the air. "They are
following in (Narendra) Modi's footsteps," said Satna's
Congress unit president Pradyumna Singh Saluja.
Only a day before, Jabalpur—the headquarters of Mahakaushal region
that includes Satna — witnessed another huge procession of
gun-wielding volunteers. Though there was no incident of firing, the
number of weapons on display was large.
Earlier, Path Sanchalan used to be restricted only to Dusshera
celebrations. RSS leaders said only urban areas carry out processions on
the occasion of Vijaya Dashami while in rural areas the local units
organise them as per convenience.
Madhya Pradesh has seen an unusual spurt in Path Sanchalans after the
BJP wrested power from the Congress in late 2003.
Ten days ago, RSS insisted on taking out Path Sanchalan in Badnawar in
Dhar district that saw communal violence two days before. The violence
ensued when RSS volunteers on "awareness rally", ahead of the
Path Sanchalan, entered a Muslim locality. The route chosen by the RSS
coincided with the one planned by Muslims for their Tazia procession. A
few RSS activists are behind bars in connection with the Dhar violence.
Sidhique Poocholamad,