The Hindu : RSS to throw its weight behind VHP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 10, 2003

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RSS to throw its weight behind VHP

Nagpur March 9. With elections to four State Assemblies due this year and parliamentary elections scheduled for 2004, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has indicated clearly that it will throw its weight behind the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in bolstering the Ayodhya movement, and fired a salvo at the Vajpayee Government.

Addressing a press conference at the end of the RSS' three-day meeting here today, its general secretary, Mohan Bhagwat, said ``normally, the Ayodhya movement is spearheaded by the VHP and the RSS takes part in it whenever the need arises.'' But ``the RSS is of the view that time has come for the swayamsevaks to join the movement once again.''

Replying to a question on the performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, he said ``the RSS is not willing to give full marks to it... It is a kahin khushi kahin gam (blend of happiness and sorrow) situation,'' adding ``the RSS view on the NDA Government's performance does not vary much from the popular opinion.''

To a query about "sharp differences" within the Sangh Parivar on key national issues, Mr. Bhagwat said they were bound to be there ``because these organisations function as separate entities in different spheres of life... the only common factor is that they have a large number of RSS swayamsevaks in various positions.''

On the RSS stand on the swadeshi model for economic development, he said ``the swayamsevaks should lead the movement by example. They should first adopt swadeshi in their personal and family life before launching a campaign... "

Mr. Bhagwat maintained that the RSS would like to stick to social issues and work for Hindu consolidation. It had initiated a dialogue with a few Muslim organisations and a similar exercise was on with church representatives.

As general secretary, his thrust would be on the expansion of RSS ``shakhas'' and preparing swayamsevaks for taking up the job of social awakening.

PTI

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