The Shiv Sena on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), using Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s ‘enlightening’ speech in Raigad on March 30. The Shiv Sena wondered if Bhagwat would be branded “anti-national” or “anti-Hindu” for his comment that the country needed a protest against corruption.

“Corruption has increased in the country. This is the reason why there are so many anti-corruption agitations all over India. Instead of doing soul-searching, it is being ignored,” the Shiv Sena said, quoting Bhagwat’s speech at the Raigad Fort.

“RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat pointed out that the administration has become weak and there is countrywide corruption. Because he admitted to corruption (in the country), will he be stamped as anti-national and anti-Hindu?” the Sena asked in an editorial in its party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. The Sena was the first to speak on corruption and now Bhagwat has raised the same issues, it said.

Among other issues, the RSS chief said the country’s polity had weakened and women’s safety was not guaranteed. He also praised the Maratha warrior king Shivaji who ruled without any religious discrimination against his subjects. He was addressing a gathering to mark the death anniversary of the 17th century Maratha king in Raigad district.

Referring to the 2014 general elections, the Sena said it was on the issue of corruption that lakhs of RSS workers toiled hard to evict the erstwhile (UPA) government.

“Despite having Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, corruption has gone up in the country, and this is declared by Bhagwat himself. Corruption is being discussed all over, the opposition paralysed Parliament for a week on this issue, Anna Hazare carried out a week-long agitation in New Delhi on the same,” the edit pointed out.

The situation today is marked by inflation, undermining of the education system, corruption and poor administration, it said.

The Sena also pointed to violence in West Bengal after sword-wielding BJP supporters allegedly defied that state government’s ban on armed rallies on Ram Navami. In this context, the “RSS chief could be disappointed with the non-construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya”, the editorial said. The Sena also raised issues related to inflation and the education system.

(With inputs from agencies)