It was widely believed that the Sangh Parivar was drifting. There was a serious leadership vacuum. The RSS-BJP combine was falling apart. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat revealed apolitical mindset by failing to give clear direction or responding effectively to political challenges. BJP Chief LK Advani failed to rise above factional level by becoming an ill concealed aspirant for future Prime Minister. BJP President Nitin Gadkari could not rise to expectations by failing to stem factions and divisions within the party. Now half a dozen names are in circulation as possible aspirants for the Prime Minister’s post. There is mutual distrust among the aspirants. There is visible rift between Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. LK Advani.

There are fringe elements in the Sangh Parivar that have indulged in terrorist activity. Their ambition very greatly exceeds their ability. For the most part they have succeeded in killing their own members to settle bitter internal disputes. The government’s odd allegation of their involvement in the Samjhauta Express blast has taken the heat off the Lashkar-e-Toiba which was accused by American intelligence and the UN of perpetrating the terrorist act. There is electoral method in madly equating Hindu terror with global terror. It attracts both fringe Hindu and Muslim votes. To cap it all there are credible allegations of corruption against senior BJP leaders. The Sangh Parivar appeared to have no future.

However, just one single man brought about dramatic change. By his indefatigable exertions he has succeeded in rekindling hope in the organization and reviving its future. Thanks to his singular and Herculean effort the BJP once again can look forward to a bright future. The miracle saviour of the Sangh Parivar is of course the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, Mr. Digvijay Singh.

Consider his contributions to the BJP. Mr. Digvijay Singh earlier advanced wild conspiracy theories about the 26/11 terror attacks that embarrassed most Muslims and damaged the reputation of the community. His intemperate and extreme views even helped the Sangh Parivar by expanding the base of its pro-Hindu constituency. When the BJP’s fortunes were flagging even though public disenchantment with the government rose due to various corruption cases, Mr. Digvijay Singh accused Baba Ramdev at the height of his anti-corruption movement of being aligned with the RSS. This naturally raised the BJP’s stock in the public mind. When Baba Ramdev’s popularity abated to be replaced by Anna Hazare’s movement Mr. Digvijay Singh promptly accused the latter of being a stooge of the RSS. This further strengthened the public perception that only the Sangh Parivar was fighting corruption. The truth was that Mr. LK Advani had offered a needless apology to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi because certain Jagran Manch activists had offered credible evidence of her having had illegal foreign bank accounts.

Unfortunately controversies also arose about certain members of the Hazare team to dilute the movement’s lustre. Very adroitly Mr. Digvijay Singh has now hinted that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also planning a crusade against corruption at the behest of the RSS. This will bring huge benefit to the BJP. It will establish beyond doubt in the public mind that only the Sangh Parivar is doggedly and single handedly fighting corruption. The formidable followings of Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar may now unite to support the BJP. In addition to the augmentation of its anti-corruption profile there might well be a huge boost to the BJP in the world of media. It is an open secret that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is revered by the Bennet Coleman group, the most powerful media outfit in the country. If its owners believe Mr. Digvijay Singh’s allegation regarding their in-house Guru’s links with the RSS there could now be unexpected media coverage and support for the BJP. That is why despite the ineptitude of most leaders of the Sangh Parivar the rank and file members of the organization can rest easy. Their future is in safe hands. Mr. Digvijay Singh is ensuring that BJP returns to power. After all, he believes in a higher form of Hinduism than the crude brand of Hindutva displayed by fringe sections of the Sangh Parivar. Mr. Digvijay Singh’s family has close links with the Shankaracharya of Kanchi. No wonder the BJP made his younger brother, Mr. Laxman Singh, Lok Sabha MP in 2004.