RSS chief pays tribute to Gauri Lankesh, Dharam Singh

Bhopal, Oct 13: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders, including its chief Mohan Bhagwat, has also paid tributes to slain journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, who had led a crusade against the Hindutva till her last breath and called RSS the biggest enemy of the country.

At its three day long Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal baithak or the “Diwali Baithak,” which began in Bhopal from Thursday, the RSS leadership also paid tributes to former Karntaka chief minister and Congress leader N Dharam Singh, former ISRO chief Professor U R Rao, Yakshagana artiste Chittani Ramachandra Hegdae, Sevika Samiti’s Shrada Ghate and other eminent personalities, along with Lankesh, a known vocal critic of right wing outfits.

Also, making its stand clear on the allegations against BJP president Amit Shah’s son, Jay, the RSS said charges against Mr Jay Shah can be probed if there is prima facie evidence but added that “it is for those who allege a scam to prove it.”

RSS’s joint general secretary, Mr Dattatreya Hosabole, told reporters on the sidelines of the outfit’s meeting, that unless the charges were of serious in nature, there was no need to order probe into them. “Let those who hurled charges of corruption against Jay Shah first produce evidence,” he added.

The meeting will see RSS leaders discussing on expansion and strengthning the organisation and its affiliates, review of ongoing progmamme as well as planning for new programme for next three years. Discussion on political and economic issues will be part of the agenda. One issue that the RSS core group is likely to take up is that of whether or not RSS’s second-in-command Bhaiyya Joshi, who is not keeping well, should be replaced.

Mr Hosabale, while briefing the media about the first day, said there has been an increase of more than 1,600 daily shakhas 1,700 weekly milans since last year.