RSS justifies chief's statement on PM candidate (Lead, superseding previous story) - Newstrack India
New Delhi/Nagpur, June 20 (IANS) Justifying the RSS chief's statement that the country should have a prime minister who propounded Hindutva, the organisation's spokesman Wednesday said the views should not be linked to "day-to-day political happenings".
"We always held that Hindutva, the ideological anchor of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is a liberal, all-embracing and secular idea," spokesman Ram Madhav told reporters in New Delhi.
"To portray it as anti-secular or narrow-minded is not correct. Hindutva in reality is a true synonym for secularism," the RSS spokesman maintained.
"This is our ideological position which we have been articulating from time immemorial and the chief of RSS (Mohan Bhagwat) has only reiterated that position," Madhav said.
"It is totally, utterly uncalled for to link the views expressed before the swayamsevaks to day-to-day political happenings in the country, to individuals or leaders. This is uncalled for and not appropriate," he said.
Earlier in the day, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had told cadres in Nagpur: "To keep alive the Hindutva ideology, the Hindu 'samaaj' (society) should come together. And the country should have a prime minister who believes in that ideology or propounds that view."
Bhagwat's comments come a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition National Democratic Alliance should announce a secular prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Bhagwat had hit out at Nitish Kumar too, saying he was scared to call himself a Hindu and questioned his right to decide what sort of person would make a good prime minister.
What is wrong if a Hindutva leader becomes PM: RSS Chief - SamayLive
Speaking at a function of Swayamsevaks in Latur Mr Bhagwat asked “what is the problem if a political leader with Hindutva leanings becomes Prime Minister of the country.”
He also questioned Nitish rights to decide who is secular and who is not. Bhagwat wondered if in Nitish Kumar’s imagination, former prime ministers of India were not seculars.
Obviously, Nitish words on Narendra Modi has not gone down well not only with the BJP but also with RSS.
In an interview given to a business daily on Tuesday Nitish Kumar has categorically said that any body wishing to occupy highest post should have impeccable secular credentials.
A political leader whose vision is narrow and frame of mind pigmy would not fit the bill, he is reported to have said.
His other declaration that NDA must announce its Prime Ministerial candidate before the 2014 election also led to heated political exchange.
Two Ministers of BJP in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and Giriraj Singh are speaking at tangent. Modi was quick to obliquely endorse Nitish Kumar with the words “ a leader should have the secular credentials similar to that of Atal Behari Bajapai.
Giriraj Singh, another minister was quick to add that “ no body could be more secular than Narendra Modi.
Sushil Modi is held to be close to Nitish to the extent that he risks his relation in his own party, said political watchers in Bihar.
The fight within the BJP and the fight with allies like JDU are bound to worsen over a period of time.
The matter may come to a head when NDA meets on Wednesday to arrive at a consensus for Prez candidature which has eluded it so far.
RSS flays Nitish Kumar's remark on secular Prime Minister candidate - Economic Times
"Nitish Kumar has said NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 elections should be secular. He has made the statement so that his vote bank remains intact," Bhagwat told a meeting of RSS volunteers here.
According to those present in the meeting which was out of bounds for the media, Bhagwat also described Hinduism as an "all-inclusive" religion and wondered why a "Hinduwadi" should not become the Prime Minister.
"Hinduism is the religion of humanism. You are right and we are also right, Hinduism follows this broad philosophy," he was quoted as having said.
To keep alive the Hindu ideology, the Hindu 'samaaj' should come together and the country should have a prime minister who believes in that ideology or propounds that view, he is reported to have said.
In Delhi, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said that Hindutva is the "true synonym" for secularism and is liberal as it embraces all other religions.
"To portray it (Hindutva) as anti-secular is not correct and narrow minded. Hindutva is the true synonym for secularism... We have always felt that Hindutva is the ideological anchor of RSS and it is liberal, all embracing and a secular idea," he told reporters.
He also said that what its chief Mohan Bhagwat said while addressing its swayamsevaks should not be viewed in the context of the present political situation in the country.
"It is uncalled for to link his view to day-to-day happenings on the political front and statements of certain leaders," Madhav said.
Is RSS chief pushing for Gadkari as PM? - Hindustan Times
When on Wednesday Bhagwat criticised Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s remark on the need for a “liberal secular Prime Minister”, it was interpreted as a plea for Gadkari’s case.
RSS workers said Bhagwat had an underlying agenda — to see his trusted aide Gadkari as prime minister in case the NDA got a majority in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
Nitish Kumar’s statement on Tuesday was seen as his disapproval of Modi as PM.
Bhagwat, who was in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, on Wednesday, asked: “What is the harm in having a pro-Hindu Prime Minister?’’
“It’s none of his (Nitish Kumar’s) business to decide who is secular or not.”
A senior RSS pracharak said: “A sizeable section within the RSS is not happy with Modi’s functioning … But by speaking in favour of Narendra Modi, the RSS is cleverly creating confusion among the NDA, in which the secular elements are ardent opponents of Modi, thus making the way for Gadkari.”
RSS justifies chief’s statement on prime ministerial candidate (Lead) - Thaindian.com
New Delhi/Nagpur, June 20 (IANS) Justifying the RSS chief’s statement that the country should have a prime minister who propounded Hindutva, the organisation’s spokesman Wednesday said the views should not be linked to “day-to-day political happenings”.
“We always held that Hindutva, the ideological anchor of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is a liberal, all-embracing and secular idea,” Ram Madhav told reporters here.
“To portray it as anti-secular or narrow-minded is not correct. Hindutva in reality is a true synonym for secularism,” the RSS spokesman maintained.
“This is our ideological position which we have been articulating from time immemorial and the chief of RSS (Mohan Bhagwat) has only reiterated that position,” Madhav said.
“It is totally, utterly uncalled for to link the views expressed before the swayamsevaks to day-to-day political happenings in the country, to individuals or leaders. This is uncalled for and not appropriate,” he said.
Earlier in the day, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had told reporters: “To keep alive the Hindutva ideology, the Hindu ’samaaj’ (society) should come together. And the country should have a prime minister who believes in that ideology or propounds that view.”
Bhagwat’s comments come a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition National Democratic Alliance should announce a secular prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Bhagwat had hit out at Kumar too, saying he was scared to call himself a Hindu and questioned his right to decide what sort of person would make a good prime minister.
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