Terror to be main focus at RSS meet

As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) battles terror charges, the highest decision making body of the Sangh - the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha - will meet for three days from March 11 to 13, 2011, at Puttur near Mysore to take stock of the latest challenges facing the organization.

The Sangh's political affiliate the BJP is also taking keen interest in the meet, with highly placed sources saying that party president Nitin Gadkari expected to take part in the deliberations.

The Pratinidhi Sabha may be an annual exercise of the Sangh, but it acquires great importance at present as the organization faces one of its stiffest challenges in recent times, with fingers being pointed against its key functionary Indresh Kumar over charges of involvement in terror activities.

A Sangh functionary told HT that the meet would discuss reports of the recent door-to-door campaigns against terror charges, the Kashmir issue and Ram Janmabhumi movement that the organization had conducted earlier this year. Each state is expected to report on the response to this campaign.

While issues like corruption, Kashmir and Ram Janmabhumi are expected to be discussed - with resolutions also likely on some of them, the terror charges are likely to be the main concern.

The Sangh has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too, in relation to the terror charges, after its Sah Karyavaha Suresh Joshi (Bhaiyya ji) wrote to the PM in this regard.

Another theme that the Sangh is expected to touch upon is the recent Samajik (social) Kumbh at Mandla, which was aimed at deepening Sangh influence among tribals and keep them away from Christian missionary influence.

All organizations affiliated to the Sangh - BJP, ABVP, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and many others - will attend the meet and present reports on their activities in the last one year.

State-wise activities of the Sangh in the last year will also be reviewed. The meet will also give a report on how RSS shakhas (branches) have fared in the last year; whether they are picking up or facing a decline.