The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, remarking that the RSS has grown despite attack from his father (Rajiv Gandhi) and grandmother (Indira Gandhi). RSS chief spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said that Rahul should concentrate on his party and compete with the BJP not with the RSS.
Referring to Rahul's statement on the participation of women in the RSS, Vaidya said, “It is like looking for women in an all-men hockey team. He should change his scriptwriters for poor understanding of RSS’.’
Vaidya was speaking on the eve of the three-day All India Executive Committee Meeting in Bhopal. Over 300 delegates from all over India will participate in the bi-annual meeting, which is likely to discuss issues raised by various state units, including review of the functioning of the BJP-led governments.
The executive meeting called Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal (ABKM) Baithak is also popularly known as the 'Diwali Baithak' as it is held around the time of Diwali festival, after the foundation day speech of sarsanghchalak on the day of Dussehra. The ABKM is the highest decision-making body of RSS.
The meeting will be attended by representatives of some affiliate organisations. The BJP will be represented by its organisation secretary Ramlal. Representatives of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have been invited to the meeting.
It is being held at the RSS-run residential school Sharda Vihar, close to the famous ‘Kerwa Kothi’ of late Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Arjun Singh.
“The three-day meeting will not pass any new resolution but will review the old road map decided three years back when the new sarkaryawah was elected,” Vaidya said. The meeting is likely to discuss the influx of Rohingyas, the showdown between the CPI(M) and the RSS in Kerala, growing terrorist activities in Kashmir and economic slowdown.
The meeting may specifically discuss the issue of use and prevalence of English and growth of Hindi. Since the present sarkaryawah Bhaiyaji Joshi is nearing the end of his three-year term, there will be a review of the plans formulated at the beginning of his tenure and discussions on the road ahead.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Bhopal a few days ahead of the meeting. Expansion of the RSS in the view of BJP governments at the Centre and in 18 states, will be the special focus this time around as it was being felt that governance issues were taking the focus away from the organisational issues.
