Assam Cong President Asks Pranab Mukherjee to Reconsider Decision
Assam Congress President Ripun Bora wrote to former President Pranab Mukherjee, asking him to reconsider his decision to attend RSS conference. “The RSS never respects national flag, is propagating idea of one nation one religion, is responsible for growing of social and religious intolerance,” he wrote in a letter, as accessed by ANI.
Pranab Mukherjee Has Shown the Mirror to RSS: Randeep Surjewala
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a press conference held after Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the RSS cadre, said, “Dr Mukherjee's visit to the RSS headquarters had led to a wide range of discussions and concerns. Today, Pranab Mukherjee has shown the mirror to RSS at their headquarters. He talked of plurality, tolerance, and multiculturalism.”
Pranab Mukherjee has reminded the RSS of India’s history. He taught the RSS that India’s beauty lies in its tolerance for different ideas, religions and languages. Is the RSS ready to listen?Randeep Surjewala
He said, “What should be discussed is what Pranab Mukherjee said, and not the unwarranted formalities.”
Attempts to Spread Religious Dogma Will Dilute Our Identity: Pranab Mukheree
Pranab Mukherjee opened his address at the RSS' event in Nagpur by saying, “I am here amongst you to share my understanding with you of the concepts of nation, nationalism and patriotism in the context of India.”
Our national identity has emerged after a long-drawn process of confluence and assimilation of multiple cultures and faiths that make us tolerant.Pranab Mukherjee
Mukherjee said intolerance will only dilute India' national identity and Indian nationalism emanated from universalism, assimilation and co-existence.
In India, we derive our strength from tolerance, and respect our pluralism. We celebrate our diversity.Pranab Mukherjee
"We must free our public discourse from all kinds of fear and violence" he said.
Mohan Bhagwat Addresses Cadre Ahead of Pranab's Speech
Amid displeasure expressed by Congress leaders over Pranab Mukherjee’s decision to attend the RSS event, the organisation’s chief Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing the cadre, said, “There has been a tradition in the RSS to invite well-known people from various walks of life. We are only following this tradition, and invited former President Pranab Mukherjee.”
He reiterated that the debate over RSS invitation to former President Pranab Mukherjee is meaningless.
He said, “Bharat Mata ("Mother India") is everybody’s mother... Indian culture affects every life. We must respect diversity and strengthen the country. Unity is the future. Unity cant be achieved with books and speeches. We need to walk by taking everybody together.”
"Exchange of Views Part of Indian Tradition," Tweets RSS
With the stage set for Pranab Mukherjee to deliver his address as the chief guest at RSS’ event in Nagpur, the organisation's official handle shared a tweet saying, “The exchange of views is a part of Indian tradition.”
The tweet said that both Pranab Mukherjee and RSS are well aware of each others’ ideologies yet they both agreed to Mukherjee’s presence at the event.