- Names, addresses of callers passed on to local party functionaries for follow-up
- The centre is already receiving over 200 calls a day from urban, rural youth BJP-It has promised to give tickets to young leaders
- The RSS is organising weekly 'IT milans' for young techies
- Professionals from other sectors are also being actively wooed
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Every week, more than 30 IT milans happen in various pockets of Bangalore. If the numbers are computed, roughly a thousand IT professionals attend these gatherings. But the RSS isn't just focusing on techies. Other young professionals are also on its radar, it's just that the IT milans have become a talking point.
Another swayamsevak in an MNC IT company, when asked how companies react to such groups, said: "So far the companies have remained neutral. Anyway, it is a weekend activity over which they have no control. But many of us are seen as RSS volunteers in our organisations and we are trusted and respected as a result. We are seen as people with character and organising skills."
So what do they do when they meet each Sunday? Besides a small dose of suryanamaskara and yogasana, they debate current affairs. Last week's debate at one of the IT milans in the city was on water disputes. Referring to the controversy between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the use of the Cauvery water at Hogenakkal, the swayamsevak says: "When we analyse a topic, we speak as Indians, not just Kannadigas. We keep the big picture in mind. Subnationalism is necessary, but nationalism is more important." The topic on next week's agenda is 'Rahul Gandhi's visit to Karnataka'.
With poll dates already announced, you may think it's too late to indoctrinate freshers. But whether it's new inductions or merely a case of preaching to the already converted out there and organising them, expect vibrant activity on this all-new political battlefront.
