Ratan Tata may come for Sangh camp valediction

Nagpur: There is a buzz that country’s top industrialist Ratan Tata may be the chief guest this year for the valedictory function of the Sangh Shiksha Varg-Tritiya Varsh (formally known as 3rd year OTC) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The function is to be held on June 17. And if Tata does accept the formal request that has already been sent to him, it will be the fourth time he will sharing platform with the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Two years ago, Tata spent his birthday at the RSS headquarters discussing with the Sangh top brass how they could work together on social projects. Tata was also present at a RSS function in Mumbai. More recently, last month, he was here again to meet Bhagwat.
Incidentally, last year former President Pranab Mukherjee was the chief guest at the concluding function of the annual camp and the event led to a huge political storm. More so after the former President made laudatory remarks about the RSS and described its founder KB Hedgewar as “great son of India.”
If Tata attends the function, the presence of one of the most respected industrialist would earn RSS some brownie points.
For decades when non-BJP governments ruled the country, no top personality, except those already aligned to the Sangh ideology, would like to be seen at such functions or hobnobbing publicly with the RSS leaders. But all this changed after 2014 when Narendra Modi formed the first BJP-majority government, according to RSS observer Dilip Deodhar.
A total of 828 Sangh trainees from across the country are attending the nearly month-long camp that was inaugurated at Reshimbagh on Thursday by Sarkaryawah (general secretary) Bhaiyyaji Joshi. These trainees have already attended first and second year courses. The final camp conclusion will see them presenting a passing out drill at the valedictory function. After which speeches by RSS chief and the chief guest follow.