RSS chief told to tender apology

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 10. The Congress(I) leader, Mr.G.Karthikeyan, has demanded an apology from the RSS chief, Mr.K.S.Sudarshan, for the derogatory observation that he has made about the Muslim and Christian communities in the country.

Mr.Sudarshan should also withdraw forthwith, his statement that was made out of place and in a very bad taste, Mr.Karthikeyan demanded at a press conference here today.

Such an observation, as it comes from a top leader of an organisation like the RSS, would only deepen the fissures already existing between the different communities and further precipitate a crisis in the society. That such a statement was made at a function held in connection with an international seminar on the `Gita,' should be viewed all the more seriously, he said.

Such moves would only lead to social and communal tensions. The RSS has been engaged in fanning communal passions in the name of majority communalism. It would be of interest to know who had authorised the RSS or the BJP to speak for and behalf of the millions of Hindus of this country. No one had given them the right to question the nationalism or challenge the patriotism of the Muslim and Hindu brethren. It was possible that anti- national elements could be there in every community. But that was no justification for the RSS chief to single out two communities in particular and to launch a scathing attack on them, Mr.Karthikeyan observed.

The feelings of a minority community have already been wounded by the demolition of the Babri Masjid. A party in power at the Centre should have been taking the initiative to assuage such wounded feelings in the greater interest of the nation. Instead, it they went on abusing the minorities, the consequences would be disastrous, the Congress(I) leader warned.

At a function organised by Mr.Y.Gopalaswamy, both Mr.Sudrashan and Mr.L.K.Advani had been spotted wearing badges bearing the picture of Mr.V.Prabhakaran, the leader of LTTE, accused of assassinating Rajiv Gandhi. This was grossly unjustifiable, Mr.Karthikeyan said.

He also demanded an apology from the State president of the BJP, Mr.C.K.Padmanabhan, for raking up the Ayodhya issue yet again. The BJP leader who had reacted so vociferously to the Guruvayur temple issue recently, should have desisted from such an action, he maintained.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Night driving becoming hazardous
Next     : End postal strike: CPI(M)