RSS chief takes to streets against “saffron terrorism”

In an unprecedented move, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat sat on a dharna here on Wednesday. The protest was mounted against the Congress “bogey” of “bhagwa atankwad” or “saffron terrorism”.

This is for the first time that the RSS chief himself has taken to the streets to protest over an issue. The demonstration marked the beginning of a nationwide agitation against alleged attempts to taint Hindu outfits with terror charges.

“The Congress is indulging in a dangerous game of appeasement… it is giving a bad name to Hindu organisations only for vote-bank politics,” Bhagwat said in his address to a well-attended rally of RSS and BJP workers. Several senior state BJP leaders, including Kalraj Mishra and Lalji Tandon, were present at the rally.

The RSS chief also made a pointed reference to the Ayodhya issue. “Now the verdict has come… but it didn’t serve the Congress’ purpose… so now it has started spreading the bogey of saffron terrorism,” he said. Bhagwat also alleged that an RSS worker Indresh of Rajasthan had been framed in the Ajmer blast case.

“If the security agencies have some names and evidence against them, let them investigate and bring the guilty to book. But this campaign of branding Hindu organisations as terrorist outfits will not be tolerated,” the RSS chief asserted.

He said that the RSS agitation would not stop till this smear campaign is stopped.

“The RSS and Hindus at large are against terrorism. Hinduism and terrorism are complete opposites. These charges are ridiculous and baseless,” Bhagwat said.

“Anti-national elements gather in Delhi and hold public meetings. The government does nothing, but the RSS is targeted to appease minorities,” he said.

The RSS chief also lashed out at J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying: “He (Omar) says any solution to the Kashmir problem should be acceptable to Pakistan. He is a chief minister of an Indian state or a Pakistani state? But no one even raises a finger at him.”