Nagpur: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) continues to tread on image makeover path. To shun the ‘fundamentalist organization’ tag attached to it, the RSS has dropped the word ‘shastrapujan’ (worshipping of weapons) from the invites issued for its annual grand function to celebrate Dussera.
Named Vijaya Dashami Utsav, RSS links the fete with assertion of courage and strength by Hindu community. ‘Shastrapujan’ has been an integral part of the function over the years. Till last year, it was specifically mentioned about in the official invites sent by the RSS for Vijay Dashami celebrations.
RSS officials involved in organizing the event confirmed that the word ‘shastrapujan’ was not mentioned in this year’s invitation cards, but also added that the event has not been dropped as such.
Earlier during the year, Mohnish Jabalpure, an activist living in Mahal locality where RSS headquarters is located, had filed a petition in the district and sessions court that the organization was displaying weapons without holding a valid licence. Last month, even the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had displayed a much moderate stance in his statements. During a three-day lecture series held in New Delhi, he had said that the concept of Hindu Rashtra does not exclude Muslims. Bhagwat also said the book ‘Bunch of thoughts’ written by RSS’s second chief MS Golwalkar categorizing minority communities as enemies was not valid anymore.
Rajesh Loya, the city chief of RSS in whose name the invite has been issued, confirmed that the word Shastrapujan has been dropped for the first time from the invite. “Just the name has been dropped and not the event. The annual tradition will continue. It was not included because its implied that Vijay Dashami celebrations include worshipping the weapons,” he said. It’s is just a symbolic affair in which a couple of vintage swords, daggers and shields are put up on display, he added.
