The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a trade union affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has established its inaugural divisional office in Pulwama, a district in South Kashmir previously identified as a significant hub for militancy. This move signifies a concerted effort by the BJP and its associated organizations to bolster their presence and operational capacity within the Kashmir Valley.
The establishment of the BMS office in Pulwama, a region with a substantial labor force, is intended to advocate for the rights and dignity of employees and workers. Sameer Kuchay, the BMS in-charge for Kashmir, stated that the organization aims to ensure that laborers and employees receive their due and are treated with respect. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the Pulwama location was selected due to its central position in South Kashmir and the concentration of laborers in the area. Kuchay further indicated that approximately 20 trade unions, representing around 30,000 employees in Kashmir, are currently affiliated with the BMS. The organization’s activities in Kashmir are focused on fighting for the rights of laborers and employees.
Kuchay elaborated on the strategic importance of opening an office at this level in Kashmir, noting that the comparatively peaceful environment that has prevailed since 2019 has facilitated more open operations for workers associated with the BMS and other RSS-linked organizations. He remarked that the shift in public sentiment, where people now prioritize education over conflict, has made such initiatives more feasible. He recalled that prior to 2019, establishing an office in Kashmir at this scale would have been practically impossible, but the post-2019 situation has created a conducive atmosphere for their expansion. The BMS claims to be the first RSS-linked organization to inaugurate an office of this magnitude in the region.
Kuchay, who has been associated with the RSS since 2009 and previously served as the BJP’s Pulwama district vice-president from 2017 to 2020, has been actively involved with the BMS since 2020. He recounted personal experiences that illustrate the changing public perception and response to activities associated with the BJP and RSS prior to 2019. He recalled an incident where hoisting the Indian flag in Pulwama before 2020 garnered a largely negative public reaction online, with only two positive comments out of over 1,300 received on a Facebook post. In contrast, he noted a significant shift in public sentiment after 2020, describing a prevailing atmosphere of peace and development where children enthusiastically embrace education and national symbols.
Despite the organizational affiliations, Kuchay asserted that the BMS operates independently of religious and political considerations, with its core mission centered on the welfare of workers and employees. He emphasized that the BMS is not controlled by the BJP and does not favor any particular political party. The organization’s stance is to support the party in power as long as it upholds the interests of laborers and employees, and to oppose it when those interests are compromised. This approach underscores the BMS’s commitment to its primary objective of worker advocacy, irrespective of the political landscape.
The recent mega conference organized by the RSS in Srinagar, attended by prominent leaders including Ram Lal, the organization’s Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh, further highlights the broader strategy of expanding the RSS network in the Union Territory. This concerted push by the BJP and its affiliated organizations aims to strengthen their grassroots presence and influence across various sectors, including labor unions, in Kashmir. The establishment of the BMS divisional office in Pulwama is a tangible manifestation of this ongoing organizational expansion, signaling a new phase of activity for these groups in the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply