The security arrangements, which were withdrawn from ‘Samidha’, Bhopal office of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, were finally reinstated with Chief Minister Kamal Nath issuing orders after a day-long drama on Tuesday. Earlier, the personnel special armed forces, deputed at RSS office, were withdrawn on Monday, late night citing their deployment for election work. When the matter came to light, it led to ruckus with BJP, terming it as a political conspiracy.
The party launched a severe attack against the Congress whereas former chief minister Digvijaya Singh came in support of the RSS. At 8:18 am on Tuesday, Singh tweeted that withdrawing security from RSS office was not appropriate. Singh wrote that he requested Chief Minister Kamal Nath to immediately issue orders reinstating security arrangements. Nath later issued a statement saying that he came to know that security was withdrawn following a complaint made to Election Commission and necessity of SAF in election works.
The security arrangements were withdrawn from six places, he added. Nath said that officers had been asked to reinstate security at RSS office. There may be ideological differences with the RSS but he was not in favour of withdrawal of security, said Nath adding that BJP government did not give any security to Congress office for 15 years but provided security to BJP office. “RSS people were saying that they did not ask for any security and if BJP leaders want security at RSS office then they should apply following the set procedure,” said the Chief Minister.
“It was beyond understanding that RSS neither seeks security nor it wants security to be withdrawn,” he added. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the decision to withdraw security displays the cheap mentality of the government. The security arrangements at RSS office were made following the risk of terror attacks and it was the responsibility of the government to provide security, said Chouhan.
“If such a logic was to be followed then security to other people should also be withdrawn,” he added. Meanwhile, leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava suspected a conspiracy theory behind the move. Congress had planned to attack RSS office by removing its security, alleged Bhargava. He said they would come down heavily if any RSS member gets hurt.
Security arrangements were due to Sudharshan’s presence: RSS former chief KS Sudarshan had come to Bhopal in 2009 and staying at RSS office. Security arrangements were made at RSS office considering Sudarshan’s presence. The security arrangements were continued at RSS during BJP regime. Prior to Sudarshan’s staying at RSS office at Bhopal, there were no security arrangements.
Neither asked for security nor have objection on withdrawl: RSS
RSS spokesman Narendra Jain said that the RSS neither asked for security nor had any objection over its withdrawal. Another RSS leader, Kantilal Chatar said it was a trick of Digvijaya Singh. He claimed that earlier Singh got security withdrawn and now just to please Hindus he is supporting security at RSS office. Chatar claimed that Singh had tweeted just for gaining sympathy.