The Hindu : 'RSS chief expressed his views, not criticism'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

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National

'RSS chief expressed his views, not criticism'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 30. The RSS chief, K.S. Sudershan, had every right to express his views and those of his organisation on any issue.

That was how the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, reacted to Mr. Sudershan's criticism two days ago in Jammu on "lack of clarity of vision'' of the Vajpayee Government on the Kashmir issue.

In fact, Mr. Naqvi did not see the remarks as criticism at all.

"What Mr. Sudershan said were his views, not a criticism of (the Prime Minister) Atal Behari Vajpayee... the RSS is not a political party and it has never talked about forcing its agenda on the BJP,'' Mr. Naqvi said.

The RSS chief was reported to have specifically picked up words used earlier by Mr. Vajpayee on the need for a "give and take'' attitude to resolve the Kashmir problem to specifically say that India had "nothing to give'' as "Pakistan had already Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir,'' but the BJP preferred not to see any criticism of the Prime Minister in his remarks.

Mr. Naqvi's explanation of what Mr. Vajpayee meant by "give and take'' was that the Prime Minister was referring to "cross-border terrorism when he talked about give and take.''

"The BJP believed that the Government was proceeding in the right direction (on the peace initiative with Pakistan)... the Centre was keeping national interests in mind.''

Although at the Mumbai "chintan baithak," in which an RSS representative was also present, "maintaining good relations'' with the RSS and its organisations was given importance, it is being conceded by the party leaders that so far the results cannot be seen on the ground.

Almost everyday the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been lashing out at the BJP leaders for trying to work out an agreement on Ayodhya behind their backs as it were.

And now the direct criticism of the Prime Minister and his Government on the Kashmir issue by the RSS head.

"We are going forward on the issue of coordination (between RSS organisations),'' was all that Mr. Naqvi would say.

But privately, some party leaders indeed expressed surprise over the RSS chief's remarks, although it was also pointed out that Mr. Sudershan had only articulated the known RSS position when he indicated that the only dispute in Kashmir was India taking back PoK.

"What give and take? Will Pakistan agree to our taking back of PoK?'' Mr. Sudershan was reported as having asked.

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