Refuting the criticism that the VHP’s ‘ghar vapasi’ campaign was in essence a conversion drive, Manmohan Vaidya, All India Prachar Pramukh for the RSS, said here on Saturday that connecting to one’s roots was “a natural urge.”
“Ghar vapasi is a natural urge to reconnect with our roots. It is a home coming. It has been going on for long. No law and order problem was created because of the ghar vapasi drive. It is not illegal. Some people are merely creating controversies out of nothing,” Mr. Vaidya told a press conference here, on the sidelines of the RSS’ convention of office bearers.
Asked why the organisation had removed Rajeshwar Singh, the force behind the controversial ‘ghar vapasi’ campaign in Uttar Pradesh, as coordinator of programmes, Mr. Vaidya said, “Mr. Singh is not well. He has been given time to relax. After six months, we will decide on what responsibility to assign him.”
He remained non-committal about the invitation to Sanjay Joshi, former member of the BJP’s national executive and friend-turned-foe of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
