RSS on Gadkari issue: 'No soft corner for anyone'

Seeking to distance itself from the controversy over business dealings of Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Friday said the law should take its own course and it does not have a soft corner for anybody.

"And those who are found guilty should be punished according to the law", RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabele told mediapersons on the Gadkari issue after the inauguration of the RSS National Executive Council meet at Kelambakkam on the outskirts of Chennai.

Referring to the statement of RSS General Secretary Suresh Joshi a few days ago that any individual or organization indulging in any illegal activity must be subjected to impartial probe and all those found guilty be punished, he said, "The same stand continues".

The three-day meet, being attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and 400 delegates from the country, will deliberate on various issues like illegal immigration from Bangladesh and the proposed Land Acquisition Bill.

Taking exception to the media singling out Gadkari on the issue of alleged land acquisition, he said, "There may be 100 others also (involved in such issue).

"We are not going to discuss it case wise or person wise. We are going to discuss it as a policy of land acquisition. Whoever comes within that will have to stand before the law. That is why we are not giving any soft corner to anybody. We go by policy and have been stressing on that", Hosabele said.

He said "(for RSS) whether the issue of land acquisition or corruption or any other issue, there is no different yardstick. RSS is with the country's interest, nation's interest. Public morality is supreme for us and accordingly we express that."

Asked whether Gadkari should step down like former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Hosabale said, "In the case of Yeddyurappa, it is the BJP national leadership which decided because Lokayukta charges were there (against him). Here (Gadkari), inquiry should take place. That is what we have demanded".

"If inquiry takes place and it is of similar type (as that of Yeddyurappa), then the (BJP) party will take decision. Even in the case of Yeddyurappa, it is party that decided and not RSS", Hosabale said.

He said RSS did not want to guide BJP on such issues, as the party has ruled the country and were "matured enough".

Replying to a question on whether the RSS would seek an explanation from Gadkari, Hosabale said the BJP President is a "sangh swayam sevak" and "allegations should be answered properly".

"There are swayam sevaks in BJP. Gadkari is a sangh swayam sevak. Like in a family, Gadkari also meets the office bearers and we also meet, such discussions takes place. It is not child's play. If something is happening in the society, we also discuss", he said.

"But as far as issue of corruption by anybody (is concerned) whether it is Congress or BJP, we have always been telling that the due process of law should take place and allegations should be answered properly", he said.

Asked about the current political situation in the country he said, "...political situation is so vast and diverse in the (our) country. However, people of this country want a change for the better and earlier the best. That is what RSS feels", Hosabale said.

Image: BJP president Nitin Gadkari