‘RSS MUST TAKE STAND ON BODIES FLOATING IN GANGA’

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut appealed to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to take a firm stand on dead bodies that washed up on the banks of river Ganga without last rites. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the issue is related to Hindutva and is as important as Ram Mandir. Raut also said the ‘toolkit’ and other social media platforms that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used, to target its political opponents, have now backfired on them.

The Sena chief spokesperson’s statements on fatalities in Uttar Pradesh came at a time when the top brass of the RSS and BJP leaders met this week to discuss the party’s image on handling the Covid-19 crisis in the state. The northern state is slated to go for polls in eightnine months.

“We expect him to express strong views on various issues. However, for the last few months, everyone has been silent, especially, when thousands of dead bodies have been found floating in the river of Ganga, without last rites being performed, as per the rituals. The issue is related to Hindutva and as important as Ram Mandir,” Raut said.

“People in the country expect that pro-hindu leaders across the country should clarify their stand on the issue and I appeal to Mohan Bhagwat ji that he should express his views on it,” added Raut. The Sena leader also slammed BJP on the ‘toolkit’ issue and said the issue has not only started a debate in the country but everywhere in the world. “Whether it was toolkit, Twitter or other social media platforms, BJP used all this to target its political opponent earlier. Now it has backfired on them ,” added Raut. Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said, “There is a concern over fatalities in other states, but what about over 90,000 deaths in Maharashtra? When will they express grief on that? Besides, everybody knows the truth about toolkit and the manner in which the campaign to defame the government is going on.”