Pranab Mukherjee at RSS HQ LIVE: There is a Limit to Opposing Opinion, Says Mohan Bhagwat

"No matter what our ideology, langauge or religion, RSS believes in welfare of the society. We have no dearth of examples, good thoughts in India. However, we lack people who can sacrifice their life for the nation. Things are now improving, RSS' goals is to bridge that gap and it has taken up the responsibility to identify such people. One can only work when they have power, and that comes from staying united. There is strength only in unity," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"All of us are the same. Some do not agree. Some realise and agree. However, there are some who agree but think that the country will be degraded if people associate with RSS. RSS founder KB Hedgewar also went to jail during the Congress' agitation during the freedom movement. We are all children of Mother India. We all have one ancestor. We must have a democratic mind," says Mohan Bhagwat:

"Everybody has the right to a political opinion but there is a limit to an opposing view. We should realise that we are working for the betterment of the same country but some groups have more motives than just debating. Governments can do a lot but not everything. We need to take up the role individually as well. Only then can the nation change. Even before independence, everybody agreed that we need to work together for the nation. Political differences are now dividing us. The nation's future depends on common citizens. Only when citizens are willing to set aside their aspirations can a nation change for good," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"India had great natural resources and so India never needed to fight anyone for living. India accommodated everyone from outside. Several great minds laid down their lives for this country. There are times when we had our differences but we are all sons of the same soil — India. Diversity should be accepted, it's good. We are all one, even in this diversity. Government alone cannot do everything, citizens also have to contribute. Only then can a country change," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"The Sangh only wants to unite the entire society. We embrace all, we are not just for one section. RSS believes in unity in diversity. Every citizen born in India is an Indian. It is his right to worship our motherland. There have been many debates about Pranab Mukjherjee attending the event but we do not consider anyone different from ourselves. We Indians are one and united," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"There has been a tradition that we invite well-known people from various walks of life for our Tritiya Varsh event. We are only following this tradition. There is no meaning to this discussion that has happened this time. Everyone in this country knows the personality of Pranab Mukherjee, we are grateful that we are able to learn something from him. How Pranab was called and how he is coming is not a matter of debate. Sangh in Sangh, Pranab is Pranab," says Mohan Bhagwat.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is addressing the cadre before former president Pranab Mukherjee is set to speak. In his opening statement, Bhagwat is talking about how the RSS has always called on eminent personalities for their 'graduation' ceremony. 

The parade by RSS cadres is now over. An RSS official is now introducing the visitors and dignitaries present at the event. Former president Pranab Mukherjee, who is the chief guest at the event, is set to begin his address soon. 

The Sangh, which describes itself as a nationalist and cultural organisation rather than a political or religious one, was founded by KB Hedgewar, known as Doctorji, on September 27, 1925, on Vijayadashami day at his house. The name 'Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh' was selected for the organisation on April 17, 1926, from a list of four names — Jaripatka Mandal, Bharat Uddharak Mandal, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Pranab Mukherjee paying tribute to Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS, at Smriti Chinah in Nagpur: 

Former President of India Sh. Pranab Mukherjee pays tribute to Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar , the 2nd Sarsanghchalak of #RSS, at Smriti Chinah, Nagpur. #RSSTritiyaVarsh pic.twitter.com/EipOMKMj3k

— RSS (@RSSorg) June 7, 2018

The RSS flag has been unfurled at RSS's Tritiya Varsh event. Former president Pranab Mukherjee is seated in the stage and currently, the around 700 RSS cadres who are 'passing out' at today's event are performing a drill. RSS mentioned in a tweet that 6 shikshaks (trainers), 39 Prant Pramukhs & 120 prabandhaks have "toiled day and night" to ensure that the camp runs smoothly. 707 swayamsevaks will be completing their varg this year. Of them, 191 are Post Graduates and 375 are graduates.

"It is imperative for all Indians to know what the RSS has historically stood for and to understand what it thinks today. People of India should never forget how antithetical their ideologies are to the idea of India," tweets the Congress, with a blog post:

It is imperative for all Indians to know what the RSS has historically stood for and to understand what it thinks today. People of India should never forget how antithetical their ideologies are to the idea of India.https://t.co/j3DoUsaftu

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 7, 2018

The Congress has come out all guns blazing against the RSS with the party tweeting out a video titled 'RSS for Dummies':

Today is a very fitting day to bring you all a primer on what the RSS really stands for. pic.twitter.com/m1oQ15nkDJ

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 7, 2018

The wily Mukherjee has accepted that the political right currently has a large footprint. Only through engagement with liberal elements within the right can the extremist fringe be contained.

Former president Pranab Mukherjee has arrived at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Mukherjee, who reached Nagpur last evening, has been invited by the RSS to address its Shiksha Varg and attend a parade by the Sangh workers on completion of the training camp. It is an annual training camp, meant for swayamsevaks in their third year in the organisation. The RSS holds training camps for first, second and third-year swayamsewaks.

Pranab Mukherjee was never finicky about his political friends. Be it the ruling party, opposition or members of the regional parties, he has always maintained a good rapport with everyone.

Former President and the Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee today visited the birthplace of the RSS founding Sarsanghachalak Keshav Baliram Hedgewar ahead of his much-anticipated speech at the Sangh headquarters here. Mukherjee, who was welcomed by the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, had to walk through narrow lanes to reach the house where Hedgewar was born and also removed his shoes before entering the place. According to sources, this visit to pay tributes to Hedgewar was not part of Mukherjee's scheduled itinerary and an impromptu decision was taken by the former president to do so.

"The images of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS Headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic. Dialogue can only be with those who are willing to listen, absorb and change. There is nothing to suggest that RSS has moved away from his core agenda as it seeks legitimacy," tweets Congress leader Anand Sharma.

"Congress Party's PREACH TOLERANCE, PRACTICE INTOLERANCE" is exposed. Why can't different ideologies co-exist in India? Of course, Congress is ideology-less (family) party," tweeted MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju:

Congress Party's PREACH TOLERANCE, PRACTICE INTOLERANCE" is exposed. Why can't different ideologies co-exist in India? Of course, Congress is ideology-less (family) party.

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 7, 2018

“In the RSS Tritiya Varsh valedictory, it is customary to invite people who have made significant contributions to national life as Chief Guest and have the benefit of their experience. In line with this, Sri Pranab Mukherjee (Pranab da) was extended an invitation,” tweeted the Sangh. Meanwhile, a Congress leader has defended Pranab Mukherjee's praise for RSS Founder KB Hedgewar, saying, "What does one say of a dead man, especially who has been the Organising Committee Chairman of the AICC Session in 1920?"

During the RSS event, there will be 5 people on the main dais: Pranab Mukherjee, Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Nagpur head Rajesh Loya, Varg Adhikaari Gajendra Singh and Vidharbh Prant Sangh Chalak Ramji Harkare. The guests on the VVIP gallery would be Nishad Mafatlal, a relative of Subhash Chandra Bose Ardhendu Bose, Sunil Shastri, ex-footballer Kalyan Chaube, Arvind Mills owner Lalji Bhai, Writer for Hindu issues Rajiv Malhotra and Andhra Pradesh industrialist Rajendra Prasad.

There is a lazy assumption that if you do not hold a so-called Leftist perception then by default you are a "right winger" - their view of the ideological world exists in strict binaries and as a result, you become someone who should be criticised, publicly shamed and protested against.

Pranab Mukherjee visited RSS Founder Dr KB Hedgewar's residence with Mohan Bhagwat in tow. "Today, I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India," Mukherjee wrote as a message in the visitor's book at RSS founder Hedgewar's birthplace in Nagpur:

Congress leader and former union minister CK Jaffer Sharief said, “His decision to go to RSS is surprising and shocking. Being a Congress man life-long, going to RSS suddenly like this... he can’t ignore his background. He didn’t take anyone into confidence, he’s suddenly going.” Sharief, in a letter to Mukherjee, asked if the RSS accepted what the former president said as a minister and Congress leader about the Sangh being the “worst” outfit which was “communal”, “anti-national” and “unpatriotic”.

Union minister for road and transport, Nitin Gadkari, has lambasted Congress leaders for their “hypocrisy” in asking former President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw from the RSS event in June. He said that it shows that the Congress talks about being progressive and secular but believes in political untouchability. “Pranab Mukherjee has got his own thoughts and he wants to discuss them with people and I believe this is the essence of democracy,” he said. “Congressmen in the past have visited the families of those involved in terrorist activities. It is their politics. At the same, they detest Mr Mukherjee for being invited to an RSS event? It is total hypocrisy,” he added.

RSS leader Rakhesh Sinha has also come out claiming free speech saying, “Pranab Mukherjee's acceptance to attend RSS event sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue and adversaries are not enemies. Those raising questions on 'intolerance' of RSS-Hindutva have now been answered."

RSS joint secretary Manmohan Vaidya has said that the outrage over Pranab Mukherjee’s acceptance “smacks of intellectual intolerance”. “Pranab da has resisted these attempts to publicly shame him and has been statesman-like in his response, stating that he will answer with his speech in Nagpur. He has thus emphasised that his decision to attend is unwavering. We welcome his decision and his true spirit of democracy,” said Vaidya.

The former President's visit to Nagpur is being projected by the Sangh leadership as an end to its political untouchability. In the Congress party, however, it has caused considerable discomfiture.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has come out with a statement on the controversy surrounding the invite to former president Pranab Mukherjee. “There seems to be unseemly outrage over the acceptance of the invitation. Mukherjee is a mature and experienced politician who has spent decades in public life. He has well-evolved ideas on matters that are of social and national significance. The invitation has been extended to him with the view that this will be an invaluable opportunity to listen to his views. Also, he will have the opportunity to listen to the views of the Sangh and have a first-hand experience of the Sangh. This exchange of views and ideas is intrinsic to the Bharatiya concept of dialogue, this invitation and its acceptance is but a continuation of that democratic tradition, enshrined in our cultural ethos. The process of dialogue is necessary, with everybody. For us, he is a former President who is going to deliver a lecture at our event. He is not a Congress leader for us. Whatever the former president says, we will take it as an advice/ suggestion coming from the former president,” the statement said.

Several senior Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, CK Jaffer Sharief and Ramesh Chennithala, have written to Mukherjee asking him to reconsider his decision.