Intolerance protests due to anti-national sentiments: RSS

The RSS on Sunday reiterated its demand for a countrywide ban on cow slaughter, claiming that the protests against intolerance was a result of anti-national sentiments.

Addressing media persons here after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's working committee meeting in Ranchi, the organisation's West Bengal unit secretary (or pranta karyavahak) Jishnu Bose claimed that the RSS has gained considerable ground in Bengal over the last few years.

"Those who are clamouring about intolerance and indulging in protests are jealous of the success of the central government. These protests are manifestation of the anti-national sentiments that they harbour," said Bose.

A host of authors, filmmakers and even scientists have given up their prestigious national awards in protest against growing intolerance in the country under the Narendra Modi government.

Even as he condemned the lynching of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh over rumours of eating beef, Bose dubbed as "indecent" the recent organising of a beef festival in the city by NGO Bhasha o Chetana Samity (Language and Awakening Forum).

Sahitya Akademi awardee poet Subodh Sarkar and former state minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah participated in the programme among others.

"The beef party was indecent and a condemnable act. Won't we be accused of inciting communal tension if we hosted a pork party? Such act should not be allowed," Bose said, and added that the killers in the Uttar Pradesh lynching should be given exemplary punishment.

Bose said the RSS has gained ground across the country including Bengal.

"Our daily and weekly programme are now conducted across 262 out of the 341 blocks of the state. Besides, the number of shakhas (the smallest RSS unit where daily activities are held) in the state stands at 1,492 -- up against 1,240 in 2014 and 902 in 2013."

The Milan (where weekly activities are organised) stood at 1,015 while the monthly programme (Sangh Mandali) was organised 545 times.

Talking about the national figures, Bose said 50,432 shakhas were held across the country which was 6,684 more than the previous year.