‘I feel proud of my association with RSS’
NEW DELHI: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Friday credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for helping him imbibe the “values of life” and “national duty” and said he saw no reason why anyone should have any objection to its principles, which are primarily aimed at character development.
Naidu, who described the RSS as the “largest, voluntary organisation”, made these statements at a time when a controversy has erupted over former President Pranab Mukherjee’s decision to address the RSS cadre in Nagpur next week. “I feel proud of my association with the RSS and have said it on the floor of Parliament. What I am, it was because of training with RSS and RSS-inspired ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad),” Naidu said, delivering the 8th Nanaji Deshmukh memorial lecture on ‘Story of inclusive development — Important role of society’.
Recalling his association, he added, “My initiation into public life was through RSS… It offered me a perspective of humanity, a sense of purpose for life and a framework for positive action. Like me, thousands have spent a life time in public life.”
Naidu went on to say that the RSS is all about “self-discipline, self-respect, self-defence, self-reliance, social reform, social consciousness, social movement and selfless service”.
The Congress and other opposition parties, accuse the RSS of being divisive, and dub its ideology as one that propagates Hindutva.
The RSS is affiliated to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Over the last few days, several Congress leaders have written to Mukherjee, expressing concern over his decision to attend the RSS’s final-year camp, also known as the Truteeya Varsh Sangh Shiksha Varg, on June 7.
Naidu echoed the RSS’s statement that Mahatma Gandhi and political leaders of various shades had visited their shakhas (units); and were impressed with the discipline of the cadre.
THE CONG AND OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES, ACCUSE THE RSS OF BEING DIVISIVE, AND DUB ITS IDEOLOGY AS ONE THAT PROPAGATES HINDUTVA.