Bhagwat expected to have lunch with tribals at Kumbh on Thursday

In a bid to strike a conciliatory note with the tribals, RSS head Mohan Bhagwat is planning to have lunch with them at Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain on Thursday.

Bhagwat and tribals are expected to have lunch together on the banks of Shipra river at the Kumbh Mela. Later, the RSS chief will address a ‘Janjati sammelan’ (tribals’ meet) at 4 PM, RSS’ Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad Prant (MP region) Organising Secretary, Pravinji Dolke, told PTI today.

The move is being translated in political circles as a step aimed at striking a chord with the tribals.

Earlier today, BJP president Amit Shah took a ‘samrasta snan’ and ‘bhoj’ with Dalit sadhus and others at the Kumbh Mela.

Sangh Parivar head Mohan Bhagwat had stirred a hornet’s nest and ruffled feathers of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes by calling for a review of reservation policy during the run-up to the Bihar Assembly polls last year.

The statement had boomeranged and apparently led to BJP’s drubbing in the caste-ridden polls. Bhagwat’s statement had come under scrutiny within the Sangh Parivar with some BJP leaders pointing a finger at the RSS chief for BJP’s debacle.

RSS is running a nation-wide campaign this year to promote “social harmony” among Hindus to woo tribals and Dalits which are key to BJP’s hopes of wresting power in Uttar Pradesh, going to polls next year.

The RSS has already held discussions on ‘samajik samrasta’ (social harmony) in its shakhas (morning get together classes) from January 3-10 in Madhya Pradesh.

“Also, we have organised common meals and get-togethers across the country in which Dalits and tribals participated,” a RSS leader said, adding, samajik samrasta yajnas are also being organised.