RSS looks expand footprint by setting up shakhas in 13 districts of Kashi

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has decided to expand its base in rural parts of 13 eastern Uttar Pradesh districts by August this year, a senior office-bearer of the organisation said.

“The central leadership of the RSS has set the target of starting a ‘shakha’ in every gram panchayat of 13 districts falling under the Kashi region, by August this year. We are in the process of training short-term expanders,” a senior office-bearer familiar with the development said.

He said students, farmers, teachers or any other person could become a short-term expander. “They will undergo a short-term training for starting new ‘shakhas’ in villages. RSS volunteers have approached a number of people in gram panchayats which do not have RSS ‘shakhas’,” he said.

The districts where the RSS is planning expansion include Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mau, Amethi, Kaushambi, and Bhadohi. “Special focus will be on expansion in Amethi and Ghazipur,” the office-bearer said.

While Amethi is the stronghold of the Congress, Ghazipur is the bastion of the Samajwadi Party.

The RSS leader said after training, the expanders would spend about a month in each village panchayat and set up ‘shakhas’.

“After the ‘shakhas’ start functioning well, they will be organised under local RSS volunteers. The expansion will further be taken to every village of Kashi region of the RSS,” he added.

Incharge of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra and RSS office-bearer of Kashi region, Ambrish (goes by his first name) said: “The RSS has started working on its expansion plan. Our initial efforts have given desired results.” “We are confident of achieving the target within the deadline. It will be ensured that ‘shakhas’ remain functional and contribute to nation-building,” he said.

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