Amid contest with Kangana, Vikramaditya invokes RSS ‘connection’

HIMACHAL PRADESH PWD minister Vikramaditya Singh Friday invoked his family’s “age-old connection with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh” and the anti-conversion law brought by his father and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh to target BJP'S Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi Kangana Ranaut on what he termed as “an attack on the Sanatan Dharma and Dev Samaj culture of Himachal Pradesh”.

Vikramaditya, who has been fielded by the Congress to take on Ranaut in Mandi, the seat that his mother currently represents, urged RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to intervene and ensure that there are “no more attacks on state’s Dev sanskriti, Dev lok niti and Sanatan Dharma”.

“The Dev sanskriti, Dev lok niti and Sanatan Dharma is under attack in Himachal Pradesh today. The manner in which statements are being being made on what to eat and what not to eat, it has emerged as a serious issue... We want to contest the elections on the planks of development and the works that we have done. It is also equally important that we respect and preserve our Dev sanskriti and Sanatan Dharma,” Vikramaditya said in a video message on his Facebook page.

While he didn’t name Ranaut, it is apparent the message is targeted at her. A source close to Vikramaditya said he was referring to Ranaut’s comments denying she eats beef and a statement in which she claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an ansh (part) of Lord Ram.

“It can be said that Narendra Modi is an 'ansh' of Lord Ram and Vishnu who takes care of us,” Ranaut had said last week.