VSK TN
Excerpts from an interview with RSS All India
Leader for Media Relations Dr. Manmohan Vaidya to Outlook News Magazine published on 24th February 2014.
Leader for Media Relations Dr. Manmohan Vaidya to Outlook News Magazine published on 24th February 2014.
Dr. Manmohan Vaidya
‘The Allegation And The
Report Are Concocted’
Report Are Concocted’
For the first time ever, allegations of
involvement in terror activities have been made against an RSS chief. What does
the RSS have to say about Swami Aseemanand’s interview and allegations about
Mohan Bhagwat?
involvement in terror activities have been made against an RSS chief. What does
the RSS have to say about Swami Aseemanand’s interview and allegations about
Mohan Bhagwat?
Allegations haven’t been made by Assemanand. It
has been reported by the reporter which has been denied by Swami Assemanand
through his advocate. And according to the jail manual, to go inside the jail
and take an interview of this kind needs permission. That requisite permission
had also not been taken. Therefore, this allegation and the report is
concocted. This is what even he (Aseemanand) has to say.
has been reported by the reporter which has been denied by Swami Assemanand
through his advocate. And according to the jail manual, to go inside the jail
and take an interview of this kind needs permission. That requisite permission
had also not been taken. Therefore, this allegation and the report is
concocted. This is what even he (Aseemanand) has to say.
So should we believe that the Sangh is
completely denying the charges?
completely denying the charges?
We have said so before. Sangh had cleared its
stand long time ago. That the Sangh does not believe in such violent
activities. Nor has the Sangh ever supported such actions. If some person seems
involved in this kind of activity then that should be investigated. And there
is a judicial process, according to that judicial process, it should be proven
and punished. But the judicial process and investigation is not getting
completed, investigations are not moving ahead and through the media only
allegations are being levelled continuously. It seems the motive behind this is
something else. Either those who are doing this have no faith in the judicial
process. Or they have some other agenda behind it. They are levelling such
charges to fulfil their agenda and the media is being used to do that.
stand long time ago. That the Sangh does not believe in such violent
activities. Nor has the Sangh ever supported such actions. If some person seems
involved in this kind of activity then that should be investigated. And there
is a judicial process, according to that judicial process, it should be proven
and punished. But the judicial process and investigation is not getting
completed, investigations are not moving ahead and through the media only
allegations are being levelled continuously. It seems the motive behind this is
something else. Either those who are doing this have no faith in the judicial
process. Or they have some other agenda behind it. They are levelling such
charges to fulfil their agenda and the media is being used to do that.
What do you think is the agenda? Why is this
being done?
being done?
Some people have a vested interest in not letting
nationalist forces move ahead. And therefore they want to stop us by defaming
us. This kind of effort is being made, not for the first time today but it has
been happening regularly. Yet this nationalist force (RSS) has only been
welcomed by the society and is increasingly being welcomed and embraced by the
society. Even the work of this nationalist force is expanding.
nationalist forces move ahead. And therefore they want to stop us by defaming
us. This kind of effort is being made, not for the first time today but it has
been happening regularly. Yet this nationalist force (RSS) has only been
welcomed by the society and is increasingly being welcomed and embraced by the
society. Even the work of this nationalist force is expanding.
But this is the first time ever when such a
huge allegation has been levelled against…
huge allegation has been levelled against…
It has happened before. Names of Sangh officials
have been thrown up before. This has not happened for the first time. Such
allegations have never been probed and never proven. Every now and then such
allegations have been made. It is not the first time.
have been thrown up before. This has not happened for the first time. Such
allegations have never been probed and never proven. Every now and then such
allegations have been made. It is not the first time.
But this is the first time when the RSS
chief’s name has come up? Is there no worry in the Sangh on that account?
chief’s name has come up? Is there no worry in the Sangh on that account?
No. Even the RSS chief’s name has been discussed
in the media before. Only the media is playing it up because they have no
information nor any proof.
in the media before. Only the media is playing it up because they have no
information nor any proof.
But if the confession comes from someone who
was a part of the RSS and a very active part of the RSS…
was a part of the RSS and a very active part of the RSS…
But he has said that it is not his confession. So
why are you considering it a confession?
why are you considering it a confession?
But even if you look at it like flip flop, he
has said that Mohan Bhagwat knew about the attacks…
has said that Mohan Bhagwat knew about the attacks…
No, he hasn’t said that. What he has said clearly
through his advocate is in front of everyone.
through his advocate is in front of everyone.
The tapes of the interview have been released
and in the tapes Assemanand says that he met Bhagwat and Indresh Kumar with
Sunil Joshi and Bhagwat blessed his plan and told him that Assemanand could go
ahead with his plans but Sangh’s name or involvement must not be
revealed.
and in the tapes Assemanand says that he met Bhagwat and Indresh Kumar with
Sunil Joshi and Bhagwat blessed his plan and told him that Assemanand could go
ahead with his plans but Sangh’s name or involvement must not be
revealed.
These things are wrong and Assemanand has said
that. This kind of interview (with Caravan) has never happened is what
Aseemanand has said.
that. This kind of interview (with Caravan) has never happened is what
Aseemanand has said.
Is there any clarification more than just a
denial that Sangh may want to give on Aseemanand’s accusations against Mohan
Bhagwat ?
denial that Sangh may want to give on Aseemanand’s accusations against Mohan
Bhagwat ?
Sangh has said before that Snagh neither believes
in such violent activities nor supports it. The Sangh has said that before. For
the Sangh to have given either its approval or support for any such activities
is not possible at all.
in such violent activities nor supports it. The Sangh has said that before. For
the Sangh to have given either its approval or support for any such activities
is not possible at all.
Just a little walk trough of what might have
happened then. Aseemanand says that he met Mohan Bhagwat in 2005 at Shabari
dham when an RSS conclave happened there and later again at an event. Was Mohan
Bhagwat actually in Shabari dham then? Where was he? Did he meet Aseemanand
there?
happened then. Aseemanand says that he met Mohan Bhagwat in 2005 at Shabari
dham when an RSS conclave happened there and later again at an event. Was Mohan
Bhagwat actually in Shabari dham then? Where was he? Did he meet Aseemanand
there?
There were a few programmes that had happened at
the Shabari dham. A number of Sangh officials were also there then. But to say
all these meetings happened there then, is wrong. One event held there was
Murari Bapu’s Ram Katha and the second event was Shabari kumbh where 8 to 9
lakh adivasis had come together for that. Those were big public programmes and
held there, that is true.
the Shabari dham. A number of Sangh officials were also there then. But to say
all these meetings happened there then, is wrong. One event held there was
Murari Bapu’s Ram Katha and the second event was Shabari kumbh where 8 to 9
lakh adivasis had come together for that. Those were big public programmes and
held there, that is true.
During those events, did Mohan Bhagwat meet or
speak to Aseemanand privately there…?
speak to Aseemanand privately there…?
That’s wrong. That’s wrong.
It’s becoming one man’s word against the other
then should the Sangh not provide proof that these allegations are motivated
and is there an attempt to do that and how?
then should the Sangh not provide proof that these allegations are motivated
and is there an attempt to do that and how?
Sangh has said this many times. So the judicial
process that is going on in this case, that judicial process should be
completed as soon as possible. And if someone is found guilty then they must be
punished. The judicial process is not moving ahead and only allegations in the
media are surfacing. If they have information of this kind then they should
give it to the investigative agencies. NIA has clearly said that no such
information came to them in their investigations. NIA is equipped to extract
information through various kinds of means. So if the NIA does not have the
information and instead a journalist has it, then it is a little hard to
believe. That’s all.
process that is going on in this case, that judicial process should be
completed as soon as possible. And if someone is found guilty then they must be
punished. The judicial process is not moving ahead and only allegations in the
media are surfacing. If they have information of this kind then they should
give it to the investigative agencies. NIA has clearly said that no such
information came to them in their investigations. NIA is equipped to extract
information through various kinds of means. So if the NIA does not have the
information and instead a journalist has it, then it is a little hard to
believe. That’s all.
Lok Sabha polls are just two months away, do
you think the agenda could be more than just stopping nationalist forces, like
you?
Perhaps, given how badly the Congress is doing right now, maybe the Congress
could be behind this to change the agenda. But given the timing of this, the
possibility is greater of doing this now keeping the elections in mind.
you think the agenda could be more than just stopping nationalist forces, like
you?
Perhaps, given how badly the Congress is doing right now, maybe the Congress
could be behind this to change the agenda. But given the timing of this, the
possibility is greater of doing this now keeping the elections in mind.
But how far do you think this will dent the
RSS and the BJP?
RSS and the BJP?
It does not affect the RSS at all. The base of
Sangh’s work is separate and there have been attempts to defame Sangh with such
false allegations before. And Sangh on its own strength and capabilities has
come out of such allegations and marched ahead.
Sangh’s work is separate and there have been attempts to defame Sangh with such
false allegations before. And Sangh on its own strength and capabilities has
come out of such allegations and marched ahead.
And the BJP…
No, political questions.
No, political questions.
Will it affect the morale of the cadre?
No more questions.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?289491