Ahead of the Ayodhya verdict, RSS calls for peace and harmony

The members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday took a call to approach leaders across the political spectrum in its effort to promote harmony. This comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya case, which is expected soon. The senior RSS members are all set for talks with selected leaders of political parties such as the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamool Congress. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left parties. 

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RSS appeals to maintain peace and harmony

On Tuesday, a meeting of the RSS and the Muslim organisations took place at the residence of Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. According to an RSS leader who is well versed with the meeting stated that the functionaries assigned for the job would contact influential leaders of the Congress, SP, Left parties and others to appeal to them to maintain peace and harmony, regardless of the judicial outcome and to watch out against any attempts at provocation. The RSS leader further added that the meeting between Congress leader Ahmed Patel and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was part of RSS's efforts in this direction. RSS functionaries would not meet or contact through its back channels even to Chief Ministers of opposition-ruled states including Kamal Nath of Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan and Captain Amarinder Singh of Punjab in this regard, sources said.

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'Accepted wholeheartedly by everyone'

The sources further stated that RSS leader would contact Congress leader Digvijay Singh and not with Congress President Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The RSS has been making an effort to send a message across the country that the top court's judgement should be "accepted wholeheartedly by everyone", regardless of which side it favours. The development began with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meeting Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Arshad Madani. Later, the RSS leaders met other religious leaders of the community. The apex court is expected to announce its verdict in the politically-sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case before November 17, when Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi completes his term. RSS’s effort to promote harmony comes a day after RSS leaders held a closed-door conversation with Muslims across the political board to maintain "unity in diversity" as India's "cultural commitment" after the judgement.

(Inputs from ANI)

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