Mulchand Rana

BJP

Samajik Samrasata

Gujarat

Rajnath Singh

Una

Vijay Thaker

Shailesh Patel

In a shocking move, Dalit ideologuehas parted ways with the RSS as well as the BJP. The 64-yearold has called it quits after serving the saffron organisations for 48 years. Rana, a retired bank officer, has sent letters to both theand the RSS, asking them to relieve him from all his duties. Rana told Mirror that he was compelled to quit as he felt that both organisations are no longer interested in narrowing the rift between Dalits and other Hindu communities. He alleged that RSS and BJP’s ‘Samrasata’ is nothing but ‘Karmakand’ (a ritual) as they talk about it but don’t believe in it.Rana has been vice-president ofManch of Gujarat, an RSS wing of Social Unity, since 2006. Talking exclusively to Mirror after his resignation from both organisations, Rana said: “I did it with a heavy heart. For the past couple of years, I have been telling both RSS and BJP units ofthat the rift between Dalits and other Hindu communities is widening. The importance of Dalits in BJP and RSS has been dropping over past 10 years. But in past five years, the rift between Dalits and other communities has widened so much that it has led to an increase in cases of atrocities.As VP of RSS Samrasta Manch, we formed a team that would visit the village where atrocity was reported. We had nicknamed it ‘108’ group as it was supposed to go and rescue the Dalits from problems. We used to prepare a report after the visit.” He added, “Since 2014, I have prepared 25 such reports as I was only person to visit all 25 villages of atrocity and submitted it to the Sangh but no action was taken. Neither the RSS nor the BJP is serious about Dalit atrocities and discrimination in Gujarat.”Rana joined the RSS in 1970 when he started attending the Bapunagar Shakha. Though he came from a poor Dalit family in Bapunagar, he became a bank officer through sheer hard work. In 1998, he was appointed as secretary in BJP SC Morcha. Looking at his good work, he was asked to resign from his bank job and devote time to RSS and BJP full-time. In 2000, he was appointed as member of Gujarat Public Service Commission where he worked for six years. After his term was over in 2006, he actively started his work with RSS Samrasata Manch which he continued till he resigned on December 26, 2017.Rana has been trying hard to get Gujarat to implement the Special Component Plan for Scheduled Plan (SCP for SCs) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for uplift of Dalits and tribals. As per SCP for SCs, 7% of the State budget must allotted to Dalit welfare, and as per TSP, 15% of the budget must be given to tribals. Though, BJP government did not pay heed to his efforts, RSS National Joint General Secretary V Bhagaiah called for this to be implemented in all States.“In August 2016, Bhagaiahji convened 70 RSS intellectuals and leaders among which I was the only from Gujarat in Delhi. He called for a movement to get governments to implement TSP and SCP for SCs. A delegation metin his regard. After the Delhi meeting, we started a movement in Gujarat act but CM Vijay Rupani did not help us,” Rana alleged.As per Rana’s claim, he cautioned RSS much before theincident that situation of Dalits in the State is getting worse. “I cautioned State RSS leaders in March 2016 that Dalits are not happy. They did nothing, and Una happened.” Hindutva is getting stronger in the State, said Rana, adding, “With that, hatred between Dalits and other Hindu communities is also getting intense. There are villages where Dalits cannot share a meal with so-called upper-caste people. Earlier, RSS was the inspiration and force behind the BJP. Now, BJP’s sanskars are coming to RSS which is dangerous. Dalit youths who wants to join the saffron organisations must discuss and first find out about their samrasata attempts.”RSS Gujarat spokespersonsaid: “Mulchandbhai is very senior worker of the Sangh. His service is highly appreciated. When RSS Gujarat’s secretary Yashwant Chaudhary and joint secretarymet him, he clearly said he is not disappointed with RSS. He has also assured Chaudhary that he would continue to work for Samajik Samrasata (Social Unity) all his life.” Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said, “I am ignorant of his resignation from the party.”