RSS says Muslim Rashtriya Manch is independent group

The RSS on Thursday distanced itself from the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), which has been organising Iftar parties across India, saying it was an independent organisation.

"MRM is an independent and autonomous organisation of nationalist Muslims. All organisations working for national interest remain in touch with the RSS. So it is wrong to say that the programmes organised by the MSM are organised by the RSS," Manmohan Vaidya, the communication head of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) said in a statement on Thursday.

However, he said that if the MRM invites 'swayamsewaks' to its programmes, they will definitely attend.

Indresh Kumar, a senior RSS functionary, is the chief patron of the MRM.

The MRM has taken several initiatives among the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan to spread the message of peace and brotherhood. It has organised Iftar parties in various places including Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai among other cities.

Hindu outfits like Hindu Mahasabha have raised objections to the MSM's initiatives.

In Delhi, the Iftar party was organised at the Parliament Annexe building, which was attended by ambassadors of a few countries, and representatives of various Muslim countries. Union minister Harsh Vardhan was also present.

According to its website, the MRM is a group of nationalist Muslims and functionaries of the RSS, which was initially called "Rashtravadi Muslim Andolan-Ek Nayi Raah".

Even though the RSS does not include the MRM in the list of its 36 affiliates, the organisation was founded in 2002 by former RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan and has had close links with the Sangh.