RSS Rally in Doda worries majority community

NC lashes out at Govt for ‘promoting communal divide’

A war of words has broken out between opposition National Conference and the ruling BJP over the recent RSS rally in Doda which is being seen by locals as a “move to incite passions” in the Chenab Valley district.
RSS activists donning khaki trousers and carrying sticks, marched through streets of main town of Doda on October 2, raising “provocative slogans.”
“What has led to fear among people is that both local administration and police are seen tacitly supporting them (RSS) at a time when the state is already gripped in tension,” President Bar Association Doda, Asim Hashmi, told Kashmir Post.
“Since the present (PDP-BJP) regime came to power, the RSS has become assertive with the support of the administration,” Hashmi said.
Last Wednesday, Provincial President National Conference, Devender Singh Rana, referring to the rally, hit out at the Government for “promoting” RSS in the Chenab Valley by “permitting lathi-wielding Swayamsevaks to march on the streets of Doda, raising provocative slogans” even as he accused the administration of “becoming a tool in the hands of the BJP which is furthering the agenda of RSS openly and brazenly.”
Senior BJP leader Ashok Koul asserted that it wasn’t for the first time that the RSS took out “route march” in Doda.
“This has been going on for 10 years since the RSS set up its Shakahs in the district,” said Koul. “In the coming days the RSS will be taking out route marches at other places including Kishtwar, Jammu, Ramban and other places.”
A senior citizen from Doda, Ghulam Mustafa, while talking to Kashmir Post, however said that people of majority community were outraged over the civilian killings in Kashmir in the ongoing uprising.
“In this regard people carried out peaceful protest marches against the government and not against any community,” said Mustafa. “The sudden parade by the RSS activists is seen as a threat message to people and an attempt at incitement of passions. In such an atmosphere of fear if anything happens it will have spillover effect beyond the Chenab Valley.”
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Bhupinder Kumar, said there were no directions from the Government for not allowing the rally by the RSS activists.
“They had the permission,” Kumar said.