"Nemesis has followed swift on the heels of Narendra Modi’s hubris. He is ...the first Indian prime minister to serve a third term since its first, Jawaharlal Nehru. Yet rarely has an election victory looked more like defeat." - 'The Guardian'
In his first remarks after the BJP fell short of a majority in the Lok Sabha polls but formed the government with its allies for a record third term, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said a true 'sevak' should serve the people without being arrogant.
"Jo vaastavik sevak hai, jisko vaastavik sevak kaha jaa sakta hai, woh maryada se chalta hai. (A true 'sevak' maintains dignity. He follows the decorum while working.), RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said.
"Uss maryada ka paalan karke jo chalta hai, woh karm karta hai lekin karmon mein lipt nahi hota. Usme ahankar nahin aata ki maine kiya. Aur wohi sevak kehlane ka adhikari rehta hai, (A true 'sevak' maintains dignity. He follows the decorum while working. He does not have the arrogance to say 'I did this work'. Only that person can be called a true 'sevak')," Bhagwat said at an event in Nagpur.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said that a true 'sevak' is not arrogant and serves the people by maintaining dignity, as part of his first remarks after the Lok Sabha election results that delivered a record third term for the Narendra Modi government but with a reduced mandate.
The words of the head of the RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, assume significance as the party, despite an aggressive poll campaign, fell far short of the ambitious '400 paar' call for the NDA. The party even failed to get to the majority mark of 272 - it won 240 of 543 Lok Sabha seats - as an energised INDIA bloc prevented a Modi wave.
The BJP relied on NDA allies, including TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar, to form a coalition government at the Centre.
The RSS chief also spoke about the bitter electoral campaign by "both sides", underlining how decorum was not maintained. He lamented that even the RSS was dragged into it.
"The way in which people abuse each other, misuse technology and spread fake news during election campaigns is not right," he said.
Referring to the bitter poll campaigning by political parties, he said decorum was not maintained. He presented a nuanced perspective on the role of the Opposition in a democratic framework, saying it is not 'virodhi paksh' but 'pratipaksh' (the Opposition is not an opponent).
He also stressed the need for consensus between the government and the Opposition, saying that even if they have differences, they should come together and work for the masses.
"Election is a process of building consensus. Parliament has two sides so that both aspects of any question can be presented," the RSS chief said.
"All over the world, society has changed, resulting in systemic change. That's the essence of democracy," he added.
He highlighted the need to get over the election rhetoric and resolve the Manipur conflict as a priority.
"It's been a year since Manipur has been waiting for peace. The state remained peaceful for the last 10 years, but suddenly, the gun culture has increased again. It is important to resolve the conflict as a priority," the RSS chief said.
"The situation in Manipur will have to be considered with priority. There is a need to get over election rhetoric and focus on problems facing the nation," he added.
"The murky and allegedly undemocratic circumstances of Moitra’s expulsion from parliament was seen by many to symbolise Modi’s approach to dissenting voices and the steady erosion of India’s democracy. She was among several vocal opposition politicians who were subjected to investigations by government crime agencies". -- 'The Guardian'
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