Some forces out to put Sangh in dock, says RSS; dismisses accusations

The RSS today dismissed accusations linking it with some recent "condemnable" incidents like Dadri lynching episode, saying the Sangh is unnecessarily being put in the "dock" as part of a "conspiracy" by some forces.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also denied that it sought a review of the reservation policy, asserting it favoured its continuation as long as the society required the quota system.

The Sangh described as "highly deplorable" the "sinister attempts" being made by some elements to ridicule Hindu culture and organisations.

It called for unravelling the truth in the accusations by some forces in the recent days linking it with some condemnable incidents in the country.

"In the last few days some forces are trying to put the Sangh in the dock by linking it with different incidents," RSS General Secretary Bhayyaiji Joshi said, and described it as an "insult" to the Hindu society.

"We believe that the Sangh is unnecessarily being put in the dock as part of a conspiracy. We have always condemned such incidents because such incidents are not good for the society," he told a press conference here.

Stating that there is a necessity to go deeper into such incidents to find out the truth, he said that in the past also the Sangh had faced such allegations but when one went deeper into the allegations there was no truth found in such charges.

Joshi made these remarks in response to a question as to why RSS is facing accusations of being intolerant following the Dadri incident that had sparked an outrage.

"Sinister attempts are made by some elements to ridicule Hindu culture & organisations, it is highly deplorable," the RSS said in a tweet.

"Whatever was said (by RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat recently) was not presented in proper words. Nowhere, it was said that there should be a review of the reservation policy. It is compulsory for the society," Joshi said.

Replying to a query on reservation in the context of its implementation, Joshi said if there was any loophole it could be plugged.

"So long reservation is required for the society it should continue. This is what we have said repeatedly," he added.

Bhagwat's comments on reservation policy last month ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls had kicked up a political storm.

Joshi said the Sangh had always been constructive in its thoughts and respected everyone's sentiment.

"We have been in the social life for the last 90 years and nobody raised allegations of intolerance against the Sangh," he said.

"I understand that this(allegations of intolerance) is an insult to the Hindu society and there is a necessity to correct it with a proper understanding of the Sangh's constructive works in the society. The Sangh has always made forward strides together with all," he said.

Ikhlaq Ahmed, a 50-year-old resident of Dadri in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, was lynched by a mob over "beef" eating rumours on the night of September 28.