RSS worried about infighting in BJP

Ahead of the general elections, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi on Sunday said Sangh is worried over the infighting in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but is confident that senior leaders in the party are capable of resolving the crisis.

He was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the concluding day of the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) being held here. He was accompanied by Dr Manmohan Vaidya, in charge of media relations, RSS.

“We are worried and also not worried... We feel the leaders are experienced enough as we had seen on earlier occasions. They are capable. They will solve the problem,” Joshi said when asked about the Varanasi seat row between veteran leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

On RSS’ stand on whether senior leaders like L K Advani should be contesting elections, he said RSS has never issued orders and therefore cannot direct the party, but can only suggest.

“New generation keeps coming and they should be given an opportunity to work, but at the same time, the elders have experience and can guide the youngsters. Political scenario is, however, different and roles keep on changing just as they do in our social lives,” he said.

On AAP

On the growing popularity of the Aam Aadmi Party, Joshi said, “Political parties keep coming. Any party with a good political ideology to fight corruption will be liked by the public. However, only time will prove who is right or wrong.”

Asked about RSS’ viewpoint on the same-sex relationships and the laws related to it, Joshi said, “It is just not acceptable especially in a society like India which is based on culture, values etc. These things are a threat to our social fabric and are thus a danger”. Joshi also urged the government to consult religious leaders before making any laws pertaining to such issues.

 Commenting on the viewpoint of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama that he was “okay” with same sex relationships, Joshi said it was his personal opinion and everybody had the right to express their views. “A talk is possible with Dalai Lama. We don’t have any difficulty in doing so. He has kept his views and everyone in this country has the right to put forth his views. Anyway, he is an outsider,” he added.

On giving minority tag to the Jain community, Joshi said anything which divides society was unacceptable to RSS especially the tag of being a minority. “Jainism cannot be separated from Hinduism. Jains are not any different from Hindus. Jainism may be separated from Hinduism based on rituals, scriptures and tenets but not culturally,” he said.

He said RSS condemns the recent ‘conspiracy’ to malign Mata Amritanandamayi after a foreign author’s book on her mutt.