RSS meet begins in Rajasthan today, communal harmony on top agenda
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) begins its three-day meet in Jhunjunu, Rajasthan on July 7, where the organisation will brainstorm maintaining communal harmony in the aftermath of Hindu killings in Udaipur and Amravati as a backlash to BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s comments on Prophet Mohammed.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, under the direction of RSS leader Indresh Kumar, has planned tribute meetings for Kanhaiyalal, the tailor killed in Udaipur at various places.
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It is in touch with various Muslim organisations to maintain harmony in the country. The MRM is also campaigning against radicalism, sources said.
Several Muslim clerics and organisations have been roped in to engage with the community.
Sources say nearly 50 such organisations have been identified to spread the message of peace and douse the communal fire. Religious leaders, academicians and other well-respected individuals in the Muslim community will be part of the engagement to reach out to the community for this exercise.
The RSS had come out with a similar strategy supervised closely by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and former RSS General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi ahead of the Ram Mandir verdict to ensure communal flare-ups did not take place and it turned out to be successful.
BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s comments on Prophet Mohammed have not gone well with the Muslim community, not only in India but also in Islamic countries. This also led the Indian government to issue clarifications on Sharma’s views.
This comes soon after Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded in Udaipur on June 28 by Riyaz Attari and Ghouse Mohammad after his Facebook post in support of Nupur Sharma. A similar killing took place in Amravati, Maharashtra, where seven people were arrested.
The National Investigating Agency is probing a larger conspiracy that could have international terror links.
The three-day RSS meet from Thursday is likely to take up the issue of communal polarisation in the country in the wake of these incidents.
Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and pracharaks of all the 45 zones of RSS will participate in the meeting. BJP general secretaries BL Santosh and Shivprakash and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders will also participate in this meeting.
The meeting comes soon after the BJP’s national executive meeting in Telangana where the party focussed on its strategy in the south, especially Telangana that goes to the polls next year.
Keeping an eye on elections in Rajasthan where the Congress is in power, the BJP has been highlighting communal violence in the state over the last few years.
The meeting is also expected to plan for centenary celebrations as RSS turns 100 in 2025.
