“Tell RSS What’s Wrong With Their Ideology”: Chidambaram to Pranab

Amid the brouhaha over former president and veteran Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee attending an RSS event on 7 June, the grand old party's P Chidambaram has also reacted to the controversy, saying that the former should go to the event and "tell them what is wrong with their ideology".

Now that he has accepted the invitation, there is no point debating why he accepted it. The more important thing to say is, ‘Sir, you have accepted the invitation, please go there and tell them what is wrong with their ideology.’”

P Chidambaram on Pranab Mukherjee accepting invitation for RSS event

Notably, both Chidambaram and Mukherjee had served as Finance Ministers during the 10 years that the UPA was in power from 2004 to 2014.

Chidambaram's comments came after several other Congress leaders expressed surprise over Mukherjee attending the RSS event.

Senior Congress leader CK Jaffer Sharief wrote a letter to the former president over the event, requesting him to "reconsider and avoid visiting".

His decision to go to the RSS (event) is surprising and shocking. Being a Congressman life-long, going to the RSS (event) suddenly like this... He can’t ignore his background. He didn’t take anyone into confidence, he’s suddenly going.

CK Jaffer Sharief, Congress leader

Another party leader, Ramesh Chennithala, also wrote to Mukherjee, requesting him to refrain from attending the RSS event.

I have been associated with him for many years, I am very concerned and surprised by his decision. RSS is always trying to divide society.

Ramesh Chennithala, Congress leader

Notably, Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the valedictory session of the ‘Sangh Shiksha Varg-Tritiya Varsh' or the Third Year Course – a training camp for the RSS volunteers – organised by the RSS on 7 June.

The Sangh leadership invites eminent people for the annual event held at its headquarters at Reshim Bagh in Nagpur.