New Delhi, Oct 18 (Agencies) : In an attempt to downplay Ram Mandir issue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said it was not in a hurry to discuss construction of temple at Ayodhya but did not rule out discussion on Love Jehad in its national convention, which commenced here on Friday.
“This new Government at the Centre is there for the next five years. Construction of Ram Mandir is on its agenda, hence there is no such hurry for putting pressure on the BJP for construction of the temple at Ayodhya,” said Dattatreya Hosbole, Sah Sarkaryavah, of the RSS here.
He said BJP’s election manifesto talks about Ram temple. So the party has to take a call. No one is in a hurry because the Government is in power till 2019. It should set its priority and first solve the issues that concerns common man, he told reporters in presence of Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Rashtriya Prachar Pramukh. On further query he said: “This question should be asked to Central Ministers or to the BJP president.”
“Love Jehad issue will be discussed in the meeting because it is being raised by our organisation for the past 10 years. It is only now that public and media have expressed their concern,” Hosbole said.
The RSS leader also lauded the BJP Government at the Centre for its stand against the Pakistani shelling and condoled the death of security personnel and civilians in the Pakistani firing. He denied that the meeting would discuss 2017 Assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh or on the performance of the Narendra Modi Government. “These are political issues and we are here not to dicuss politics,” he said. Encouraged by interest shown by youth in RSS Hoshbole said a strategy would be evolved to engage them in social and other works. “Last year 1.25 lakh new primary members joined the RSS who had taken up 7-days induction camp. Now they are ready to serve the organisation,” he said.
The leader also claimed that the number of shakhas have also increased by 4,500 in the country while weekly shakhas also gone up by 1,500 against last year. “Now we can presume that every village on all the highways in the country have the presence of RSS workers and they are active in the social, educational and other voluntary work,” he said.
Giving details of the social service done by the RSS in recent cyclone in Andhra Pradesh and during floods in Jammu and Kashmir, Hosbole said in Andhra, 600 workers were engaged in 46 places for rescue and relief works along with four medical teams.In J&K, 3,885 volunteers were engaged at 1,500 places besides there were 140 medical camps where 21,000 people were treated.
In Meghalaya too, during recent floods, 200 workers were engaged in 150 villages, he said. Meanwhile, the three-day Karyakari Mandal meeting of the RSS began in presence of Sarsangha chalak Mohan Bhagwat and his deputy and Sarkaryavah Suresh (Bhaiyaji) Joshi. BJP president Amit Shah along with BJP national general secretary (organisation) Ramlal, VHP leaders Praveen Bhai Togadia and Champat Rai were present on the occasion.
Around 390 delegates from 41 prants and 11 zones along with representatives of 33 organisations are participating in this meet, held once in a year. Lucknow is hosting this meet for the first time.