Terming as unfortunate the public perception about divisions within the Sangh Parivar, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Sunday said it was concerned over it and was making efforts to rectify it at the earliest.
In an apparent shift in its stand, the Sangh fountainhead has also said that it would work along with other non-Parivar positive movements and organisations to play a crucial role in the country's destiny.
"Certainly, it is unfortunate that it appears to the people that those who believe in the Hindutva ideology are a divided lot. This is not good either for our organisation or the Hindu society. We are concerned about it and we are making efforts to rectify it at the earliest," senior Sangh functionary Dattatreya Hosbale said in an article in the latest issue of RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya.
Conceding that certain 'unpleasant developments and communication' had taken place in the ideological parivar in the last few months, he said, 'It is due to this reason that at the Surat conclave Sangh General Secretary Mohan Bhagwat clearly stated that it would ponder over ideology, style of functioning, behaviour and new generation."
"He (Bhagwat) had also stated that we will talk to all organisations that there is an ideological erosion and lack of restraint in language...while each organisation was free to draw up its programme and strategy, if we have to win the trust of the Hindu society, they should all stay together and work in the same direction under a broader strategy," Hosbale, who is the joint intellectual chief, said.
"The general secretary has clearly stated this to everyone. It is being thought about and the outcome of that thought is getting reflected off and on in language and statements," he said.
In another interview, Bhagwat said RSS has entered the fifth phase of its existence and it was focusing on uniting 'good' forces, which included any movement or organisation selflessly working in the national interest.
"Whether it is a part of RSS or not, we along with such good forces would like to bring a situation where the society recognises that force and rises to voluntarily make the nation's destiny in its leadership," he said.
He said 'regressive and politically motivated' reports in newspapers were irrelevant to the RSS cadres.