'Evaluation of Sangh should be on the basis of work'

With the BJP going all out with its preparations for the Lok Sabha polls, a top RSS leader on Friday sought to dispel the “misgivings” about his organisation, saying Sangh does not consider "anybody" as its enemy barring those who are “enemy of India within the country and outside.”

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who is considered to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also insisted that Sangh does not “discriminate” people on the lines of caste, community or religion.

“Any evaluation of the Sangh should be done on the basis of its work. RSS' Swayamsevaks offer selfless service to the masses in every nook and corner of the country. But, there are some people who deliberately distort facts about the Sangh's activities. It is unacceptable,” he added.

Hosabale was addressing an event organised here to release a book, titled—'RSS: Building India through Seva'—authored by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhanshu Mittal.

Mittal described his book as his effort to “bust the myths” about the RSS and its activities.

“Try to understand the Sangh through this book. Talk to the Sangh activists. Don't go by hearsay. This is my appeal,” the RSS leader said after releasing the book.

Many more books on the RSS are coming out, he said.

“RSS is being discussed today and people are increasingly recognising its contributions,” he added.

Hosabale also raised objections to the critics who question the role of the RSS during India's struggle for freedom from British rule.

“Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, who founded the RSS, had been arrested and sent to jail twice during the freedom struggle. He had also supported the Purna Swaraj declaration promulgated by the Indian National Congress in Lahore,” he added

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Smriti Irani also highlighted the contributions of the Sangh, saying in a veiled reference to Modi that the RSS should also take pride “in the fact that the valour of one of its Swayamsevaks” ensured return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman within 48 hours after he was captured by Pakistan Army.