If this Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) veteran is arrested “fire will engulf the entire state”, BS Yeddyurappa, now chief ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had said about the man in July last year. Hindutva fringe groups such as Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagaran Vedike draw power from him. BJP’s influence in coastal Karnataka stems from the legacy he has built over decades. Meet Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, 73, the Prant Pracharak of RSS.

Bhat has gone on record about the Sangh Parivar’s direct involvement in the BJP’s political campaign leading up to the May 12 Karnataka Assembly polls.

Bhat declined to give us an interview initially but Newslaundry went to his house in Kalladka, a modest Dakshina Kannada township, with hopes to meet him. The police security deployed at the gate informed the RSS strongman was not at home. We then made enquiries at the Ram temple complex built by Bhat. We were told that he does come at 2 pm but has left for the day.

We then climbed to the top floor of the complex, where a Ram temple has been built. In a small hut-like structure near the temple, a meeting of some 40-odd people—including a woman member—was taking place. Seated at the centre of the gathering was Bhat.

We discovered that the meeting was part of an ongoing RSS campaign strategy training programme. While understanding what was being said was a problem, we did catch a few phrases and confirmed the details with those in attendance, including Bhat himself, after the meeting got over.

Ram Temple, where the RSS meeting was being convened.

The phrase “Hindu-Muslim”, for instance, cropped up frequently. Bhat was constantly calling the Siddaramaiah government “anti-Hindu”.  Addressing the meeting, Bhat said, “We need to change the vicious atmosphere” and get voters to support the BJP’s candidates. He said first-time voters are turning towards the BJP in large numbers. RSS workers also raised several questions at the meet—these were questions they were likely to face on the ground.

Notably, the attendees were asked about the exact number of Hindu and Muslim voters in their respective booths. They were asked to focus on Hindu voters. While speaking to Muslim women, the attendees, one of them confided, were told to speak about Triple Talaq Bill introduced by the Narendra Modi government. The attendees were also advised by Bhat to talk about the Narendra Modi government’s flagship schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana when meeting people living below the poverty line.

At one point, Bhat suddenly raised his pitch and, in an accusatory tone, said the Congress party had joined hands with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The SDPI has withdrawn its candidates and is fighting on only three seats. The BJP and Sangh Parivar have accused Congress of being hand-in-gloves with the Popular Front of India (PFI) and SDPI who they hold responsible for “killings of Hindu activists”.

One of the office bearers told this correspondent, “This is the fifth such meeting. Four were convened on Thursday itself.” When asked which constituency they were focusing on, he added, “These meetings are directed at booth-level workers of the RSS in Bantwal constituency.”

There are around 240 booths in Bantwal. Two more meetings were scheduled for last Saturday. This means the RSS alone has been training at least one worker per booth in the constituency.

The workers of the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal are campaigning separately.

As the meeting ended, the attendees were handed over copies of voters’ list from the respective booths.

Bhat runs the Sri Rama group of institutions. In 1992, he led rallies and engineered protests in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition. With his fiery speeches and aggressive posturing, Bhat rose to the high ranks of the Sangh Parivar. He continues to hold enormous control over the zonal RSS leadership, Hindutva fringe outfits and even local BJP legislators. There is a reason why once the most powerful RSS leader in southern India is also referred as the architect of Karnataka’s first BJP government.

Bhat’s clout in the coastal belt was at the fore last year when, the prohibitory orders in Bantwal notwithstanding, he was able to take out a procession of 5,000 “Hindu activists” over the murder of RSS worker Sharath Madiwal. The Congress government didn’t even dare to touch him.

As the RSS meeting got over, Newslaundry approached Bhat for an interaction. He eventually relented. Here are excerpts from that conversation:

Is the Sangh Parivar campaigning for the BJP in the Karnataka polls?

A 100 per cent. We are fully involved in the election. Of course, we are not into power politics but we are very interested in the nation-building party – the BJP. Without any hesitation, I can say that we are campaigning for the BJP. In the interest of the nation, everyone should vote for the BJP.

Is Sangh Parivar’s involvement in the campaign limited to the Dakshina Kannada district?

No, no. We are campaigning in the whole of Karnataka.

You are considered a power centre in coastal Karnataka. How do you see your role in the consolidation of Hindu vote bank in favour of the BJP?

It is bringing results. Most Hindus are discontent with the Congress government. This government is against Hindu Dharma, its sanskriti and the values of our religion. The Congress is entirely going against the philosophy of Hinduism. It is unnecessarily encouraging Muslims and other minority communities.

What exactly do you mean by “unnecessarily encouragement of Muslims”? Are you pointing to some group or organisation?

Yes, yes. Until 15 days back, our minister in-charge [Dakishina Kannada district Congress MLA Ramanath Rai] was saying that the SDPI and RSS were behind the murders and violence in Dakshina Kannada. Now they have tied up with the SDPI.

But there is no official alliance or tie-up between the Congress and the SDPI, right?

That is official [emphasises]. But they [SDPI] are organising people to vote for the Congress. It’s a known truth.

I heard you say at the meeting that the Siddaramaiah government was “anti-Hindu”.  Why do you say that?

It is 100 percent anti-Hindu. Every speech he makes or every step that he [Siddaramaiah] is taking is anti-Hindu. Look at the Lingayat chapter. They are dividing Hindu society.

But years back [in 2013] Mr BS Yeddyurappa had signed a similar proposal.

That is absolutely false propaganda. He has never supported the division of Hindus. I am hearing such questions for the first time from you. [Laughs and adds] Even Siddaramaiah has not made such allegations.

Is the election in Bantwal a personal battle for you, considering your fraught relations with Congress MLA Ramanath Rai? In fact, after the tape leak [where Rai was heard asking senior superintendent of police to arrest Bhat], Yeddyurappa warned that the entire state would burn if you were arrested.

See, these are the ideological differences. That’s all. While I am patriotic who is trying to serve the Hindu society and the nation, they [Congress] are the ones trying to divide the whole society into minority and majority [groups].

But why do you attack Muslims and say that the Hindus need to stand united against them?

Because of the Congress’ appeasement policy, these people are doing harm to Hindu society.

Which people?

These Muslims! This SDPI, KFD and such Muslim organisations are harming Hindu society. So we need to unite and fight back to save Hindu society.

Why, how is it in danger?

It is absolutely under threat. We need to fight back.

The Narendra Modi government is in office at the Centre and BJP governs 21 states. Is there really such a threat to Hindus?

Yes, despite Modi being in power, Hindus are in danger in Karnataka and the rest of the country. Except for the BJP, all other political outfits and organisations are against Modi, against Hindu. They have joined hands to fight the RSS, the BJP and Modi, so they are against Hindu society.

Just because a party or a set of people stand against the BJP and RSS, how does that make them anti-Hindu?

I am not saying everyone should support the RSS. But they shouldn’t appease the Muslims and Christian either. This appeasement policy has provoked the Muslim society to attack the Hindus.

There are allegations against you trying to provoke communal spats. You took out a rally of 5,000 workers last year, despite the fact that the police had imposed prohibitory orders in the district. Don’t your words trigger divisive politics?

I have never organised a protest or spoken about against any religion. But, yes, when there is an attack on Hindus, I will take out processions and organise our workers—whether there is Section 144 imposed or 240, it doesn’t make a difference to me. I will do everything to protect Hindus, cows and women.

We are not creating a divide in the society. Look at Modi’s efforts for Muslim women—he brought in the Triple Talaq law, he is supporting higher education of Muslim girls. We—Modi and us—are not against any religion.

While mobilising RSS workers at the meeting, you seemed to be constantly provoking Hindu sentiments. You specifically asked your workers to identify Hindu households and focus on them. What is the reason for such a strategy?

If we stand united, nobody will dare to attack us. We [Hindus] are powerless now—we don’t have organisational power. The Congress visits Muslims and Christians for votes. Nobody will come to Hindus because we are divided. Hence we must stand united.

The RSS rarely comes on record about how it helps the BJP campaign ahead of elections. What made you do so?

General elections of 2019 are a few months from now. The Karnataka polls are like a semi-final. If we win here, we will win the 2019 polls also. We want Modi and the BJP government to return to power in 2019.