RSS-BJP meet discusses creation of ‘counter-narrative’ in Bengal
Times of India | 3 March 2025
12 Kolkata: RSS, its 57 sister organisations and Bengal BJP netas concluded a two-day ‘samanvay baithak' in Howrah on Sunday with proposals to create a "counter-narrative" in the state. Sources said Sangh had asked its sister organisations to activate themselves in the next couple of months to "safeguard the Hindu homeland".
"Bengal is burdened with infiltration and a fast change in the demographic profile. There is an alarming shift in the presence of communities in the state and we are worried about that," said a Bengal BJP neta, who attended the meeting.
While the samanvay baithak is normally held every year, the two-day varga meeting was discontinued in Bengal since the outbreak of Covid. "It is a routine event of Sangh, and there is nothing new to this. It is being noticed as RSS increased its strength in the state," BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said. The baithak followed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's 11-day visit to the state and came just days after CM Mamata Banerjee convened a mega Trinamool meet on Feb 27.
The two-day meeting was chaired by Ramdutt Chakradhar and Arun Kumar, joint general secretaries of RSS. While Chakradhar is in charge of Bengal, Kumar played a key role in maintaining a liaison between Sangh and BJP.
"Bengal has a rich culture and the state has, unfortunately, started to forget its heritage. Colonial hangover followed by a demographic shift contributed to the change in the state. However, during the centenary celebration of Sangh, it is time to remind the state of the Bengali Asmita," said a swayamsevak.
Bengal BJP netas said the target of "RSS-inspired organisations" would be to create mass awareness of the "threats" of a changed demography in the state. "These organisations will be in tune to spread the message and ask people to join hands to safeguard the Hindu homeland in Bengal. Sangh will never discuss politics, but the meeting in the run-up to the 2026 assembly polls is crucial to activate these organisations," a BJP neta said.
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