Mumbai: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in its own ‘woke’ moment, launched a campaign called ‘Sajag Raho’ (‘Be Vigilant, Be Awake’) in Maharashtra through more than 65 friendly organisations. The campaign was announced following reports of over 180 NGOs working in the state to mobilise Muslim voters.
The campaign was launched ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election where the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were locked in a bipolar battle. The BJP is in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti banner. The Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar), and the Congress are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
'Sajag Raho' was the newest addition to the three-line national chorus by Hindutva forces after the LS polls and the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh: the 'Batenge toh katenge' remark of Yogi Adityanath, PM Modi's comment of 'Ek hai toh safe hain' in Dhule, and Yogi's comment again in Maharashtra's Washim of 'Ek hai toh nek hain'.
BJP and RSS officials cite these slogans to promote Hindu unity. They emphasise that division among Hindus will harm the entire community. CM Yogi Adityanath’s slogan in Washim, ‘Ek hai toh nek hain,’ is interpreted as a call for Hindus to maintain unity, resonating with the ethos of the “Sajag Raho” campaign.
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The 'Sajag Raho' initiative by the RSS aligned with its ideologies and aims to counter the efforts seen as attempts to divide the Hindu community’s votes based on caste and other parameters. The campaign is aimed at fostering unity within the Hindu community and addressing caste divisions. The effort seeks to counteract attempts to fragment the Hindu vote bank on caste lines, a strategy often cited during election periods.
Times of India reported, quoting an anonymous leader, that the campaign is not aimed at anyone but at eliminating caste divisions among Hindus. RSS 'swayamsevaks' and 65-plus organisations are organising hundreds of meetings to convey the message.
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Among the 65 Special Groups involved in the campaign are Chanakya Prathisthan, Matang Sahitya Parishad and Ranragini Sevabhavi Sanstha. All the four Sangh 'prants' or regional divisions across Maharashtra—Konkan, Devgiri, Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha, where RSS has headquarters)— are involved in the campaign, organising meetings at the shakha level, according to the TOI report.