Sonia's foreign origins go off RSS agenda

Monday, 22 December 2003, 20:30 IST
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LUCKNOW: In a radical change from its earlier stance, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said Congress president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins is not on its agenda any more. The ideological parent of the Sangh Parivar - the fraternity of Hindu nationalist groups - made the surprise announcement here through its eastern region chief Ishwar Chand Gupta. "Members of the Sangh Parivar are free to hold their individual opinions with respect to Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins but, as far as the organisation is concerned, we do not propose to keep it on our agenda any more," Gupta said. The statement would have long-term ramifications for the way the political battle is played out between the RSS' political wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the months before the general election scheduled next year. The surprises did not stop there. The RSS also showered fulsome praise on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav -- once derisively labelled "Maulana Mulayam" by the RSS for his purported anti-Hindu stance -- for his "change of heart". Speaking to reporters, Gupta said: "On issues relating to Hindi and 'swadeshi', or economic self reliance, Mulayam Singh Yadav's ideology matches totally with that of the RSS and therefore he deserves praise." With the statement, the RSS has put its stamp of approval on the much-speculated bonhomie between the BJP, the ruling party at the centre, and the Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP). Describing Yadav as a 'Hinduvadi', or Hindu nationalist, Gupta said: "The man has changed drastically over the 10 years or so. We appreciate and welcome the change in Mulayam, who has at long last realised the necessity of upholding the values and ideals of Hindutva." Gupta was here to participate in a workers' meet being chaired by RSS national chief K.C. Sudarshan and generously lauded Yadav and his changing ideology. Recalling how the SP chief had acquired the sobriquet of "Maulana Mulayam" after he ordered firing on radical Hindu activists who made the first attempt to storm the 16th century Babri mosque in Ayodhya in 1990, the RSS leader said: "I am sure if he continues in this manner, he will soon become a part of the Hinduvadi mainstream." He compared Yadav with Blitz editor R.K. Karanjia. "Mulayam appears to be having a change of heart in the same manner as R.K. Karanjia, who displayed his drift towards Hindutva after consistently opposing the sangh parivar for six decades." Referring to the prospects of a political understanding between the SP and the BJP, the RSS leader said: "RSS support for any political party depends upon the their attitude towards Hindutva. And that is the approach we propose to adopt for the next general election." Given the RSS' unabashed appreciation of Yadav, the writing could be well on the wall.
Source: IANS
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