RSS chief is above prime minister: CPI-M

Taking a strong stand against Doordarshan's live telecast of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's address Friday, state CPI-M secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that it clearly shows that Bhagwat is above the prime minister of the country.

"See, we have been telling about the vice-like grip that the RSS has been having over the BJP. But you people did not understand and look today the address on Doordarshan by the RSS chief has cleared all doubts and this shows that the RSS chief is above the prime minister," Vijayan told reporters here.

"The situation is such that the prime minister and the cabinet take directions from the RSS," added Vijayan.

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadekkan while speaking to a TV channel said that this clearly shows that the RSS is engaged in backseat driving of the BJP government.

"What needs to be noted is that this was telecast on Doordarshan, when RSS at one point of time was a banned organisation," Said Vadekkan.

Senior journalist O. Abdurehman said that in the present circumstance this is not wrong because it's the RSS which is ruling the country now.

"In the coming days more such things will be visible," said Abdurehman.

But state BJP leader George Kurian said that there was nothing wrong in that because such speeches are certainly news and should be covered.

"The RSS is the biggest cultural organisation and its leader's speeches are news and such events will be covered and there's nothing wrong in it," said Kurian.