28 Aug : The RSS has said that it does not interfere in party work of the Bharatiya Janata Party, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the issue of leadership in the BJP has to be decided by the BJP.
“Whatever is happening in BJP (infighting) is not good and it should stop. Whatever has to be done by the party to put in place a system and corrective measures, it is for them to do,” said RSS chief Mohan Bahgwat while addressing a well-attended press conference at New Delhi on Friday.
He was replying to a question on the present crisis in BJP and RSS’ take on that.
While ruling out taking over the reins of its political outfit, as suggested by BJP leader Arun Shourie, Bhagwat said he cannot comment on the views of a “senior and intellectual” leader like Shourie.
But he said RSS has different task to perform and it will only provide help and advice if sought by the party.
Noting that the recent election verdict has given a “jolt” to BJP, Bhagwat said the party needed to do some urgent balancing act and the Sangh was hopeful they will do it.
To a question on whether he was worried about the future of the BJP, Bhagwat said “we should be concerned about everyone, but we are not worried…everything will be alright.” (Chinta sabki honi chahiye, lekin chintit nahin hain).
To a question on the ‘downfall’ of BJP, the RSS chief hoped that despite its ongoing problems, BJP “will rise from the ashes”, adding, that it was “too early” to term the developments in the party as its downfall.
Bhagwat also made it clear that he does not believe in giving “unsolicited advice” to the BJP. “Whenever they ask for advice, we give it…whenever they ask for it, we will provide,” he said.
The RSS chief said the BJP does follow the advice and, “therefore, I believe it will get out of crisis.”
He also scoffed at suggestions that RSS was losing grip on the BJP. “It is a wrong perception,” he added.
On Sangh’s stand on Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he said RSS had not taken movement in its hands. “We had extended our energies to the leaders of the movement and would continue to do so.”
Bhagwat maintained that Muslims and members of other minority communities have been joining the RSS by attending its ‘shakhas’ in various parts of the country.
“They are getting closer (to RSS)…the perception towards RSS is changing,” he said.