RSS admits 'extending' support to Ramdev

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday lashed at the Centre for its midnight crackdown on protesters, including women and children, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, while admitting that it "extended" support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev's agitation.

"The RSS was not behind the stir launched by Ramdev seeking repatriation of the black money stashed illegally in foreign banks but have extended all support to it (agitation)," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said while addressing the outfit's workers at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur.

He said that the RSS in its Puttur (Kerala) meeting had adopted a resolution to extend all support to Baba Ramdev. "RSS cannot remain a mute spectator to the social revolution taking place against corruption and black money. Therefore, it has asked its cadres to join the agitation," Bhagwat said.

In any case without even asking, the swayamsevaks themselves are inculcated with a sense of responsibility to join such agitations which are of prime national interest, he said.

"What provoked the government to come down heavily on the followers of Baba Ramdev at Ramlila grounds when they were simply agitating to stop corruption in high-places and unearthing of the black money?" Bhagwat asked, adding that the agitations of Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare be viewed above the party politics.

The RSS chief, while condemning the midnight swoop and the events unfolded aftermath, questioned the Centre's "intention" in not holding further talks with the Yoga guru. "(The) government should not stop the dialogue and the process must continue," he said, adding that when no one is opposed to the issues raised by the two social activists then where does the problem lie in holding a dialogue.

Some people have described it (the eviction of Ramdev and his supporters) as "Jalianwala Bagh"-like attack and for some it was a recall of the era of Emergency, he said at the concluding function of the annual third year camp of RSS workers.

Talking about the black money stashed in foreign banks, Bhagwat said it certainly belonged to the people in the higher strata of the society. It is not that a poor man has collected his money and deposited in a Swiss bank.

The RSS chief also questioned legality of the proposed Anti Communal Riots Bill being drafted by the National Advisory Council, saying that the very existence of the NAC was unconstitutional.

Bhagwat, while expressing concern over instances of conversions, said the Tirupati Tirumala Devsthan area in Andhra Pradesh has witnessed sudden spurt in the number of conversions to Christianity.

Chief guest on the occasion, Dr Ganga Raju criticised the "mis-management" of funds of big temples, particularly the Tirupati shrine in Andhra Pradesh, by the politicians. "Crores of rupees are being donated by the devotees and there is a need for proper utilisation of funds collected there," Gangaraju said demanding that the practise of conversion by allurement be stopped forthwith.