Nagpur: Hindutva fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has presence on the social media, maintains a sober outlook. However, a number of lookalike pages can also be seen in more militant avatar both on religious and political issues.
The posts on such pages are more provocative. They range from calls to make India a Hindu Rashtra to backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance on farmers’ issue. The latest were a number of posts asking Hindus not wish anyone Merry Christmas and instead follow certain other Hindu festivals on the day.
Some of the posts deride other religions openly. There is a post that shows Akhilesh Yadav in poor light compared to UP CM Adityanath. One is a call to support the BJP as it stands for the Hindu cause, and another says soon India will be known for a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya rather than Taj Mahal.
RSS’s official page at the Facebook is RSS.org. It has been blue ticked to indicate it is the only page endorsed by the organization. It carries nothing more than events held at the organization. A host of other pages by similar names can leave the social media user confused.
The stance is rather aggressive in such pages, especially on Facebook. These pages and posts give an impression of being the official stand of the RSS itself. Some have been named after RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat too, like one is called “I support Mohan Bhagwatji” on Facebook.
A functionary dealing with local media at Nagpur said there is only one official page on the Facebook—RSS.org. Similarly, there are also Twitter handles of senior functionaries like Mohan Bhagwat or Sar Karyawah (general secretary) Bhaiyaji Joshi. These were created to avoid any confusion and indicate the official stance of RSS, said the functionary.
“RSS does not endorse the posts in any other page. Rather the matter has been time and again reported to Facebook and Twitter,” said the functionary.
On the Facebook, TOI came across pages like RSS Karyakarta Group, RSS 110 crore Hindu Ka Group, RSS ek Hindu Sanghathan, I support Mohan Bhagwatji on the Facebook. Suggestions to view or join a number of other groups pop up on clicking on one.
The official page on the other hand has posts on the demise of organization’s national spokesperson and a veteran M G Vaidya, who passed away last week. The wall has quote from Bhagwat which reads ‘Hindu is not the name of any religion. It does not specify any caste or region as well. It is a term that respects each different identity and includes everyone into the ambit of humanity and devotion to India.’