Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale provided proof positive on June 26, if it was needed in the first place, that the organisation he belongs to is indeed political and that its politics is obscurantist and sectarian.

Hosabale urged a review of two words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ inserted into the Constitution through the 42nd amendment on the hilariously specious grounds that they were not included in the document adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

Before we get to Hosabale’s arguments and the larger context of secularism, multiculturalism and pluriversality, we must, once again, put some fabrications to rest. The RSS claims it is a non-political organisation. Its constitution, in English translation, says, ‘The Sangh as such has no politics and is devoted to purely cultural work. The individual Swayamsevaks, however, may join any political party…’

Addressing RSS workers in January 2018, one among many occasions, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat had said his organisation had nothing to do with politics but worked for the moral and cultural uplift of the country. For good measure, he added, “Elections mean nothing to us. We are working to maintain the values of the country for the last 60 years.” He didn’t seem to have explained the significance of 60 years.

Be that as it may, let us note that Bhagwat is the head of the RSS and Hosabale is his deputy. The fact that Hosabale plunged himself into an intensely political question, also........

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