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Political Notes |
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New RSS chief
The Hindu fundamentalist organisation, the RSS, which is spearheading the Hndutva across the country, got its new head on Saturday, March 21. Mohanrao Bhagwat, a veteran RSS leader, replaces K.S. Sudarshan, who had earlier announced his retirement citing health reasons. Sudarshan named Bhagwat his successor. He will be the sixth Sarsanghchalak (head of RSS).
Bhagwat was holding the charge of RSS general secretary. Suresh Joshi will succeed him in that post. The announcements were during a three-day conclave of the organisation in Nagpur, the RSS headquarters.
Reports say Bhagwat enjoys close and cordial relationship with L.K. Advani, prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, the political arm of the RSS. Party president Rajnath Singh has congratulated Bhagwat and expressed confidence that he would give a new dimension to the work of the BJP.
One party leader said: “Bhagwat has clarity in ideology; he is a quick decision-maker; he takes everybody along; and he expects 100 per cent implementation of decisions.”
Significantly, a day before his ascent to the top position, Bhagwat sent a message to cadres throughout the country to come out in full force and “ensure 100 per cent voting” in “the interest of Hindus” during the 2009 Lok Sabha poll.
Naxalites kill Orissa RSS leader
Suspected Naxalites shot and killed Prabhat Panigrahi, a local RSS leader in a village in Orissa’s Kandhamal district on Thursday, March 19, According to the police, it appears to be a revenge killing for Panigrahi’s alleged role in the Kandhamal riots. His name figured in the hit list released by the Naxals after the district was rocked by anti-Christian violence following the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in August 2008.
Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said: “Panigrahi was associated with the RSS. He was arrested for his alleged involvement in the communal violence but was released on bail on March 14.”
Tension ran high in the area after the murder. Angry villagers, demanding security, did not allow the body to be taken for post-mortem. The district administration defused the situation after assuring that they would be provided security.
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