RSS workers take out a foot march in Bhopal on February 23, 2014.
Today morning, before a South Indian breakfast, BJP lawmakers will tie
rakshasutras -- a thread marking their pledge to fight for the nation - on each other in a gesture that is a long-standing tradition of the party's ideological mentor, the
Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS .
They will also take a vow to defend the country at the ceremony that will be held at the Delhi home of union minister Venkaiah Naidu.
The dress code for the ceremony, which is being held at the home of union minister Venkaiah Naidu, is a white
kurta-pyjama and the black topi or cap of the RSS.
It's not clear yet if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend. Party sources are also uncertain about whether senior leaders like LK Advani, smarting from being sidelined, will be present.
The BJP's 322 MPs were informed via Whatsapp of the event, which will be addressed by Bhaiyyaji Joshi, General Secretary of the RSS and Number 2 in the organisation
A lecture from a top RSS official during a parliament session and a day ahead of the PM's speech on Independence Day emphasises the significant influence of the RSS on the new government. (
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On Sunday, Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief, appeared to reproach the Prime Minister when he said that the BJP's phenomenal victory in the national election was the result of the country's over-whelming desire for change, rather than the achievements of an individual.
"The same individuals and the party existed earlier also. Why were not they voted to power? It is the people who wanted change and brought the party to power," he said. (
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His comments came a day after the Prime Minister addressed a huge conclave of BJP workers in Delhi, and congratulated senior leaders Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah for fashioning the BJP's return to power.