PUNE, Jan 4 (TNN) : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has strongly criticised the tendencies among the Congress-led dispensation at the centre for targeting the Sangh by associating it with terrorism to divert public attention from corruption and scams.

"Those ruling the country find it convenient to make a scapegoat out of the RSS when they are themselves unable to deal with a situation of their own making," Bhagwat said at the concluding ceremony of the fifth Vishwa Sangh Shivir 2010 a grand conclave that is organised after every five years by the Sangh's international arm, the Hind Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) at Balewadi here on Sunday.

The HSS has a network of 750 shakhas' (branches) in 35 countries including the US, UK, France and the Scandinavian countries. Over 517 HSS activists from these countries participated in the five-day international conclave, which focused on Hinduism, the Sangh and its social work, the youth and promotion of cultural studies, among other issues.

Bhagwat also called upon Hindus in India to organise themselves in a way that they are viewed as model citizens by Hindus settled abroad. "Unless the Hindus in India are respected, how can we expect the Hindus across the world to be respected?" he asked.

According to Bhagwat, "A Hindu can never harm any person from another religion. Even the most illiterate of Hindus knows this, because it is ingrained in his/her culture. Unfortunately, we have to keep reminding this, off late, because of the selfish strategies of leaders from our own country to paint the Hindus in a bad picture in an attempt to stick to power."

He said, "Hindu and terrorism are two contradictory words. Even people in Pakistan haven't dared so far to make any reference about Hindu Terrorism', but leaders in our own country are coining new terms every other moment, talking about saffron terrorism' and more recently majority terrorism'. Why bring a bad name to our own people?"

Bhagwat said, "Equating a couple of incidents here and there with the sort of activities normally associated with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and involving the Sangh's name has become a convenient ruse. Whereas, the fact remains that the ruling alliance fears the growing mass base of the values promoted by the Sangh. Every time, they see a threat to their power, the RSS bogey is raised."

"Martyrs are being humiliated in our own country and our own leaders are bent on reducing India's stature internationally," said Bhagwat. "It is often the case that the evil person always desires to test the tolerance of the good human being, unmindful of the fact that there will be consequences at some point of time," he said.

Earlier, industrialist Abhay Firodia, who presided over the ceremony, spoke about the need for people to build apt pressure against corruption and scams and seek greater transparency in public life.

Shankarrao Tatwavadi, who heads the HSS international activities, provided an overview about the HSS work. Senior Sangh leaders including Madan Das Devi, former RSS chief K S Sudarshan, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti head Pramiltai Medhe, Bajranglal Gupta, RSS Pune city chief Mohan Ghaisas were among those present.