With shakhas, bal shakhas, RSS spreads its tentacles in city

Separate shakhas, called the bal shakhas, are held for schoolgoing children. The number of members in the unit is around 15,000, according to some RSS leaders.

A BJP leader says that since the Lok Sabha elections, the number of people seeking to join the shakhas and become members of the RSS has increased. The programmes being organised by the RSS are witnessing an increase in attendance.

Ajay Jamwal, the organising secretary of the Chandigarh unit of the BJP, is from the RSS. In fact, during the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, the RSS members played an active role in campaigning. They went door-to-door and influenced the voters.

The BJP leader points out that though it is claimed that the RSS does not influence political decisions, with the organising secretary being from the organisation, there is a definite impact. He says that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who was earlier the organising secretary of the Chandigarh unit is from the RSS.

The hour-long shakha that is held comprises exercises for most part. Then, a story about the life of an important personality or something which imparts moral education is narrated. Booklets on the subject are also distributed.

A senior Congress leader insists that there is a visible increase in the RSS activities. “Even in the social sphere, people have become more vocal about claiming they are from RSS. While we are yet to see youth joining in large numbers, when we go to different areas, there are people praising Modi and the work that he is doing. These people have become more vocal. This was not the case earlier,” says Subhash Chawla.

There are several educational institutes in the city influenced by the RSS. Organisations involved in social work like Bharat Vikas Parishad consists of RSS members.

A senior RSS functionary, Amrit Sagar, says that they are involved in teaching moral values to people. “RSS trains you for life and inculcates discipline. We teach people to think about others and involve them in social work. There is also a Facebook page for those interested in joining RSS. After Narendra Modi became the PM, there is more enthusiasm among the youth now,” he says.