The Congress in Maharashtra today said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported remarks on the Army were "insulting" to the armed forces and demanded an apology from him.
Condemning the remarks made at a function yesterday in Bihar, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said they would have a demoralising impact on Army personnel.
"RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has created suspicion about the capacity of the Indian Army and thus insulted the armed forces. The Congress party condemns such statements and demands an apology," he said.
"When the soldiers of the Indian Army were engaged in fighting terrorists at the Sunjuwan Military Station in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhagwat made a statement that RSS swayamsevaks can be ready (for a battle) before the Army," Chavan said.
His statement would bring down the morale of the Army, the Congress leader said, adding "it was also an insult to our jawans."
"Those whose contribution in the freedom struggle was doubtful and those who even celebrated the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi are today doubting the bravery of our jawans. This is disgusting," said the former Maharashtra chief minister.
Another Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also hit out at the RSS chief, calling his remarks "ridiculous".
Speaking at an RSS workers meet in Muzaffarpur, Bhagwat was quoted as saying that his organisation could "prepare" military personnel faster than the Army.
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