Thread by @Inquilabo

Late #Congress president Rajiv Gandhi and top #RSS leaders, Balasaheb Deoras and Bhaura Deoras, had a secret understanding, which was reflected in certain decisions taken during his tenure as PM in the late 1980s.

According to RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya

Rajiv had inherited the "soft Hindutva legacy" of Indira Gandhi's second innings as PM.

Rajiv had met Bhaurau Deoras, at least half a dozen times at different locations
The last meeting between the two leaders had taken place at 10,Janpath in Dec1990 before he was assassinated

Rajiv’s election campaign of 1984 was aggressive & focused on making #Sikhs seeking a separate homeland a key issue. The hidden agenda was to somehow exploit #insecurity within the #Hindu community and project the Rajiv-led Congress as their sole saviour.
news18.com/news/politics/…

The biggest election victory in India — the #1984 general elections, in which #Congress won 415 out of 523 seats — was the result of a collaboration between RSS and Congress, a book has claimed.

The #RSS isn't averse to supporting a non-Congress, non-BJP party during elections.

Rajiv Gandhi, when he was PM, sought the help of the #RSS in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, in lieu of #Congress’ support in building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, says a new book released in July 2018 , authered by Dr Walter Andersen and Shridhar Damle
sundayguardianlive.com/news/rajiv-off…

Rajiv enjoyed an excellent rapport with Bhaurau, who would occasionally advise him on matters of national importance. The decision to get the locks opened at the disputed site in #Ayodhya was taken by the PM in consultation with the #RSS leadership

shilanyas at the disputed site was also done at the behest of Rajiv,following the meeting with the #RSS Rajiv kicked off the campaign in the 1989 elections from #Ayodhya,hoping to reap political benefits from the shilanyas.even spoke about bringing in Ram Rajya under Congres rule

Sonia Gandhi was aware of these meetings even if she has never referred to these during a public discourse. Some of her asosct had attempted to brush under the carpet the information about Rajiv and Indira soft Hindutva line while attempting to record the history of the Congress

#RSS had developed a soft corner for Indira after the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and creation of Bangladesh. During #Emergency, many jailed RSS leaders were released by indira.
Indira had improved her rel with the RSS, which silently & secretly supported her in the 1979-80 elections

Late P.V. Narasimha Rao, who had close connections with some in the organisation as he had been educated in Nagpur. Rao's personal secretary Khandekar "was a swayamsevak"
sunday-guardian.com/news/rajiv-gan…

Narasimha Rao was chosen as the PM despite his #RSS links.who many blame for not protecting the Babri Masjid.

In his book, senior Journalist Kuldeep Nayar had mentioned that Rao performed Puja during the demolition of the Babri Mosque. thecitizen.in//index.php/en/…

Congress eventually sidelined Rao but not before he damaged the party to a greater extent.
The Upper castes of the Congress especially those in high posts ,seems to be extremely comfortable switching between #Congress and #BJP as their individual ideologies do not change much.