BJP chief, ministers meet RSS top brass; deliberate over policies

On completion of four years of the Narendra Modi dispensation, BJP chief Amit Shah along with six cabinet ministers today met top functionaries of the RSS to deliberate on government programmes and policies, including the much-awaited education policy.

The coordination meeting of the Sangh, its affiliates, the BJP, and the government started early today and was chaired by RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal.

The BJP was represented by Shah, party vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, general secretary Ram Madhav and secretary (organisation) Ram Lal.

The government was represented by the six ministers -- Rajyavardhan Rathore, JP Nadda, Maneka Gandhi, Mahesh Sharma, Prakash Javadekar and Thawarchand Gehlot.

Both Shah and Gopal were present during all rounds of the meetings.

The RSS was represented by Seva Bharti, Arogya Bharti, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, Vidya Bharti and Sanskar Bharti among other outfits.

The meeting was held over several rounds between the ministers and representatives from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) Sewa Samooh (social work wing), Shiksha Samooh (education wing), Samajik Samooh and Vichar Samooh (ideological issues wing).

During each round, which lasted for more than two hours, a samooh (group of RSS organisations) gave feedback related to respective sectors about implementation of Narendra Modi Government schemes and also suggestions on drafting of new policies, sources said.

Both Sangh leaders and ministers also deliberated over the policies related to Human Resource Development Ministry, including the education policy.

The meeting assumes significance as it is being organised at a time when the Modi government has entered the election year.

During the deliberations, all Sangh affiliates presented their reports about the performance of the various ministries. The ministers also shared details of work done by the government and the projects or schemes that have been undertaken or were in pipeline, the sources said.

The meetings are likely to continue for two more days, and some senior ministers are expected to attend them.