Shiv Sena (UBT) isn't confused. The Sena led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray says Aurangzeb's tomb shouldn't be destroyed as it's a constant reminder of Aurangzeb's cruelty and of Maratha bravery. For the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, Aurangzeb is as relevant today as he's during screening time of 'Chaava', the film on Shambaji.

But why should Aurangzeb be "irrelevant" at the present times? Perhaps, because Aurangzeb and his Hindu-hating ways, which marked his reign, is around whom the BJP's political and electoral campaign are centred. Point is, why is the RSS bent on robbing the BJP of its ace in the electoral hole?

Think of Aurangzeb's 'jiziya' tax? Shouldn't the BJP's burgeoning Hindu vote-bank be told again and again about Aurangzeb's 'Jiziya-tax', which kept the Mughal Sultanat's Hindu citizens bowing perpetually at the waist? Is RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat so consumed with hate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would rather let-off Aurangzeb with a rap on the knuckles?

The Modi-Bhagwat binary has been a constant ever since BJP President JP Nadda dismissed the RSS as "irrelevant" to the BJP, which, he said, can go it alone in the elections and give it as good as under RSS tutelage. Then, when the BJP tally in the Lok Sabha fell to 248, well short of majority, it was Modi who was made to feel "irrelevant."

The Modi-Bhagwat schism, rather aloofness, continues. Others would say there is no detente in sight. Yet others will clarify that March 30 is still 10/11 days away, what's the hurry; be positive. Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in violence-hit Nagpur on March 30 and there's every chance Modi will be meeting Mohan!

Modi will be at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur ostensibly to inaugurate the "extension" of an RSS-run eye hospital. There have been other near-meetings but this time, the optics will be clearer and Modi and Bhagwat, the both of them will finally, hopefully, see things eye to eye.

In fact, Modi has been making all sorts of amends to bring Bhagwat around, including singing praises of the RSS to a podcaster of international standing. There is a feeling going around that Bhagwat needs some assuaging and Modi is game, forget JP Nadda who should have kept his thoughts to himself.

Now, Nadda is overstaying his tenure and should have been replaced as BJP President by the end of 2024. But the deadline overshot the given date and the BJP is still saddled with Nadda much to the RSS' chagrin. "Will the BJP finally get its new party President?" will be answered at the Modi-Mohan bilateral in Nagpur?

It's in such circumstances that Sunil Ambedkar intervened with "Aurangzeb is irrelevant at present times". Ambedkar's late namesake would have been more circumspect with dramatic statements, some would say 'theatrics', that directly impact BJP's politics. Now, for no fault of the BJP, the party has to reiterate to its base, the party's intent and vision all over again.

On top of it, there's the violence that hit Nagpur. The violence was unprecedented and it happened right under the nose of the RSS, which has its headquarters in Nagpur, where violence, communal in nature, hadn't been seen even in1993 when Bombay was devastated by a series of bombings.

The Nagpur violence has given the Sangh Parivar a bad name. And the Prime Minister will be in Nagpur by month-end. Nagpur is also the parliamentary constituency of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Also, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' home-district.

The Nagpur violence was premeditated and designed to raise communal colours. At one point, all the people who were arrested bore Muslim names and for good reason, too. Then, as if to balance it out, around 10 Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists were also brought before a magistrate.

Meanwhile, the whataboutery continued in the studios of news television channels, at least one of which went ahead and used the "Muslim mob" nomenclature to identify the perpetrators, saying the time for "political correctness" was long over. It should be said that Nagpur has never witnessed "communal disturbances" in more than 100 years.

Sunil Ambedkar's "tomb remains significant" but "Aurangzeb himself is irrelevant" has only added to the confusion in the camp of Hindutva votaries. The saffron vote-bank doesn't know what the BJP wants and why's the RSS trying to outdo the BJP at its game? The RSS will be holding the 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' from March 21 and March 23.

Mohan Bhagwat will be present and the RSS Chief likes to hog the limelight which is difficult when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is part of the show! Important for both BJP and RSS is the question of who will be BJP President? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah don't want a parallel power-centre, which would be the case if the RSS has its say.

At the same time, the RSS cannot be left out of this all-important exercise. The RSS would rather have both Prime Minister Modi's and Home Minister Amit Shah's wings clipped. The RSS has been bent on outdoing the BJP in the assembly elections held so far. Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, everywhere the RSS was first off the block, campaigning in all these states and contributing to the BJP victories, too.

In fact, Prime Minister Modi wasn't seen around much in Haryana, Maharashtra and even in Delhi, where Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has hit a raw nerve by going to "iftar parties" across the length and breadth of Delhi, and generally having a good time with "gol topies."

In conclusion, there is no explaining the moods and missives of the RSS/BJP Sangh Parivar? There is no telling what the RSS wants and what the BJP wants. Nobody appears to know what decision to take. Is there a Mexican Standoff? Maybe it's Hamlet having a gala time, indecision writ large! (IPA Service)