Pranab Mukherjee to address RSS Trainers in Nagpur
NEW DELHI : Former President Pranab Mukherjee will attend a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event scheduled to be held at its Nagpur headquarters on June 7. An RSS leader said that the former president, a lifelong Congressman, had accepted the invite to the event was a significant message.
Pranab Mukherjee, a veteran Congress leader, will address an event of the RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the organisation frequently criticised by Rahul Gandhi. Mr Mukherjee will deliver the main address at a function organised on June 7 in Nagpur for RSS cadre training to become full-time volunteers or pracharaks.
The right-wing organisation’s Shiksha Varg – or education wing – will organise the concluding session of a 25-day camp. Pranab Mukherjee is the chief guest. Both Mukherjee and Mohan Bhagwat, the sarsanghchalak of the RSS, will speak to over 700 cadres – who, on their part, will demonstrate what they learned at the camp.
“We have a tradition of inviting a prominent personality who has a long track record of public service,” a senior RSS leader said. “The RSS had sent an invite to the ex-president and he has kindly accepted the invitation.”
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP and several ministers visit its headquarters in Nagpur. Congress president Rahul Gandhi accuses the organisation of trying to divide the country on religious lines.
“Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s acceptance to attend the RSS event in Nagpur sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue and adversaries are not enemies. Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of the invitation,” said Rakesh Sinha
Mr Mukherjee, 82, was the top troubleshooter of the Congress till 2012, when he became President. He was a minister in almost every Congress government since Indira Gandhi helped him get elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1969. He was widely expected to be the Congress choice for Prime Minister after Sonia Gandhi refused to take the top job in 2004. But Sonia Gandhi picked Manmohan Singh.
As president, Mr Mukherjee witnessed the transition from the Congress-led UPA to the BJP-led government in 2014. He also enjoyed a cordial relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is believed to have invited Mohan Bhagwat to the Rashtrapati Bhavan despite perceived differences in ideology.( With Agency Inputs ).
