RSS Not Concerned About Who Comes to Power, Says Mohan Bhagwat

Bhagwat also asserted that RSS is “most democratic” and it doesn’t imposes its ideology on its various affiliates.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat with other leaders in New Delhi.

(Photo: PTI)

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began its three-day lecture series at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi on Monday, 17 September where reportedly one of the primary issues to be discussed will be the Ayodhya dispute.

Religious leaders from different religions, filmstars, sportspersons, business tycoons, retired judges, former chiefs of the armed forces, ambassadors of over 60 countries, besides the leaders of all the major political parties are expected to attend the event, reported PTI.

WHAT DID MOHAN BHAGWAT TALK ABOUT?

In his 80-minute long speech, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the RSS doesn’t seek domination and is indifferent to who comes to power.

Bhagwat also asserted that RSS is the “most democratic” and not dictatorial, insisting that it neither imposes its ideology nor remote-controls its various affiliates, apparently rejecting criticism that the BJP is controlled by it.

Addressing a gathering of BJP leaders, union ministers, Bollywood actors, artists and academicians, Bhagwat also said India's diversity must be respected, celebrated and it should not be a reason for any discord in society as he extensively talked about evolution of the nearly nine-decade old RSS and its vision for an inclusive India.

Bhagwat insisted that "Hindutva binds us together and our vision of Hindutva is not to oppose or demean anyone".

Bhagwat, who also extensively quoted RSS founder K B Hedgewar in his speech, said the event was being organised so that people could understand the organisation.

WHAT THE LECTURE IS ABOUT?

Woven on the theme, ‘Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective’, the lecture series will be addressed by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. An interactive session will also be held on the third day of the event.

It will be a first-of-its-kind event to explain the Sangh's perspective on various issues and clear misconceptions about its working and ideology. Therefore, it was felt that people from all walks of life should be invited to it, a Sangh functionary told PTI.

The series was announced on 27 August. The same day, RSS functionary Arun Kumar told PTI that people across the country wanted to know and associate with the RSS.

This lecture series has been organised in this context... <i>sarsanghchalak </i>(RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwatji will present the Sangh views on various contemporary issues of national importance.

Arun Kumar, RSS functionary

WHO WILL ATTEND?

Senior functionaries of the RSS said a list of about 500 dignitaries was being prepared for the event.

The event, addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, will not see participation from Pakistan as the country has been left out from the list of invitees, given its “strained relations” with India. An RSS functionary told The Indian Express:

Invitations will be sent to embassies of most Asian countries excluding Pakistan. Pakistan will not be invited because that country supports terror, kills Indian soldiers at borders and its relations with India are strained.

However, China will be invited to attend the programme because it has “cultural similarities” with India, the report states.

The RSS had indicated that it would invite Congress president Rahul Gandhi, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the leaders of all the political outfits of different ideologies, PTI further reported.

PREVIOUS CONTROVERSY

In June this year, Congress veteran and former president Pranab Mukherjee attended an event at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on the Sangh’s invitation, for which he was criticised by the party leaders. The Congress and Left leaders expressed unhappiness over his acceptance while the BJP and RSS saw nothing wrong in it.

(Inputs from PTI, The Indian Express)