Caught on the wrong foot over its chief K S Sudarshan's praise for late prime minister Indira Gandhi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday sought to clarify his remarks saying he had not complimented her leadership and had only referred to a "glimpse" of courage she showed during the Bangladesh War.
"There was neither praise nor condemnation in his speech. It would be wrong to interpret that Sudarshan has complimented Indira Gandhi's leadership", RSS spokesman Ram Madhav told PTI.
Madhav said the RSS chief was referring to the lack of strong and determined leadership in independent India in his Lucknow speech on Sunday and in this context mentioned that Gandhi gave a "glimpse" of courage and determination during the Bangladesh War.
"But he later went on to say that she subsequently tread the wrong path by imposing Emergency and dictatorship", he
said.
Sudarshan had last week triggered off a controversy by comparing politicians with prostitutes, which drew criticism
from all political parties, except BJP.
Earlier, RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat had to come out with a statement reposing faith in the leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani after Sudarshan asked the duo to pave the way for the younger generation.
