The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said here on Friday that the Narendra Modi government had five years’ time to act on the issue of construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“The Ram temple is on the agenda of the country… It is in the national interest. We had been supporting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and religious leaders on the issue. The government has its own priority and it will work according to that ... It has ample time till 2019,” RSS “Sahsarkaryavah” (joint general secretary) Dattatreya Hosbale told presspersons.
“It is better for the government to take up the issue on priority … the Ram Mandir is in their manifesto,” he said when asked what the RSS strategy would be on the issue as the BJP had been saying that a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya would be a reality if the party was voted to power with a full majority at the Centre.
Mr. Hosbale was addressing a press conference on the opening day of the three-day RSS Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal meeting, its highest policy formulation body. BJP leaders, including party chief Amit Shah, and key functionaries of RSS affiliates are attending the annual meeting.
Without elaborating on the agenda of the meeting, Mr. Hosbale said national security and terrorism would be discussed, while brainstorming would be done on how to increase the strength of the RSS across the country.
“Love jihad” He said the RSS had been raising the issue of “love jihad” for the past 10 years. Though not on the agenda, the issue could be taken up if participants rake it up.
The Sangh was constantly increasing its presence across the country and did not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, caste or creed when it came to adding Swayamsevaks or working in the time of need.
Social media initiatives “In the past three years, we have added 4,500 ‘sakhas’…Our social media initiatives have led to more volunteers joining us. The organisation is growing at the rate of 20 per cent per year and this year over 1.25 lakh ‘swayamsewaks’ participated in our primary training programme,” he said.
It was unlikely that the RSS will pass any economic or political resolution at the end of the meeting, but a broad statement covering issues related to environment, civic and security issues could be released on Sunday.
Published - October 18, 2014 04:15 am IST
