New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is now invoking Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar to sharpen its attacks against so-called urban naxals, which for them is becoming a big menace in the country.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat while delivering the annual Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur drew attention to Ambedkar’s speech to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, in which he spoke about the need to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving social and economic objectives and abandoning the bloody methods of revolution.

Bhagwat mentioned in the speech while making a pointed reference to the unrest among the deprived sections, which he attributed to instigation by “selfish, power-hungry politics” that disrespects social harmony, and legal and Constitutional discipline, and with “an eye on votes in the upcoming elections” encouraged “these machinations.”

For the past few years, the RSS has been unequivocal in pursuing a campaign against the Left ideology, which it says has permeated academia, media and the social sectors.

The organisation claims Maoists, known as naxals, have forged links with members of civil society to act as their over-ground networks. The term urban naxals has been coined for left-wing intellectuals who, the authorities allege, have links to Maoist groups.

“…But this time an atmosphere of divergence, separatism, violence, acerbic hatred and going to the extent of fueling anti-national sentiments is being created by exploiting these grievances. The leading faces of the groups from whom the slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ (India will be divided into pieces) were emanated, have been at the forefront with their provocative speeches in such incidents at some places,” Bhagwat said.