New Delhi : Several Congress leaders on Friday heaped praises on Pranab Mukherjee, saying the former president had emerged ‘taller’ after telling the RSS about India’s pluralism, a day after many from the party had criticised him for visiting the Sangh headquarters.
Mukherjee had on Thursday in Nagpur warned that any attempt to define India through “religion, hatred, dogmas and intolerance would dilute our existence” and said public discourses must be freed of all forms of violence.
Former Finance minister P Chidambaram said Mukherjee had told RSS what was correct about Congress’s ideology.
“Happy that Mr Pranab Mukherjee told the RSS what is right about Congress’ ideology. It was his way of saying what is wrong about RSS’ ideology,” he said on Twitter.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said one should not judge a man by the invitation he gets, but by what he speaks. Mukherjee’s address vindicates this, he said.
“Very happy that my stand from day one fully vindicated viz don’t judge a man by the invitation or the host’s identity but by what he says and does at the event. repeated this and Pranabda’s address fully vindicates this view. He is first ex Congman to preach some lessons to RSS,” Singhvi said on Twitter.
“Having invited Pranabda, would be great if RSS tried to imbibe fractionally his home truths and plain spoken verities. Learn from those whom you invite as educators and mentors!” he tweeted.Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said he hoped that the RSS would absorb the former president’s message.
A significant event in history: Advani
New Delhi: BJP patriach LK Advani on Friday described former President Pranab Mukherjee attending the RSS programme at its headquarters in Nagpur his ‘grace and goodwill’ and said it was a significant event in the country’s contemporary history.
“Yesterday’s (Thursday) visit by Mukherjee, to the headquarters of the RSS, and his illuminating exposition of the noble idea and ideals of Indian nationalism, are a significant event in our country’s contemporary history,” he said in a statement here.
Advani also hailed RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat for inviting Mukherjee to address the swayamsevaks who completed the third year of training this year.