Modi meets RSS chief Bhagwat, wants Joshi, Togadia, Keshubhai ‘reined in’

The RSS on Sunday advised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to take everyone along and practise a politics of inclusion, sources said.

Apparently upset over an influential group of RSS workers, led by Sanjay Joshi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Pravin Togadia, Modi on Sunday visited the RSS headquarters here to have a close-door meeting with RSS top brass.

Modi, who air-dashed in the morning, was closeted with Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryawah Bhaiyyaji Joshi and Sahsarkaryawah Suresh Soni for about three hours. Though Modi later told the media that he had long wished to meet the RSS leaders and that the RSS HQ was a shraddhasthan (reverential place), sources said, Modi had come to appeal the RSS to rein in Joshi, Togadia and Keshubhai Patel, who have opened a front against him ahead of the Assembly polls.

Asked if there was any discussion about the Gujarat elections and other political issues, Modi told the media outside the Sangh building: "We don't discuss politics with RSS." He brushed aside suggestions that the issue of projecting him as prime ministerial candidate for 2014 general elections was discussed. "The RSS does not get involved in such things," he told reporters.

Sources, however, said that Modi is concerned over the Joshi-Togadia-Keshubhai axis working against him. The RSS leaders, it is gathered, advised Modi to learn to take everyone along to avoid rift.

The RSS is in a bind over how to tackle a "haughty" Modi since it considers him as the most important Hindutva mascot, but is cut up with him for his political intolerance and grandstanding. According to a senior RSS leader, "When it comes to the BJP's roadmap to increase its vote share by 10 per cent in the 2014 general elections by wooing the sections that have not traditionally voted for the party, the Sangh doesn't see Hindutva as an impediment and would want the BJP to look in the direction of Gujarat to understand how unwavering and firm Hindutva could still work for the party."

... contd.

ALSO READ

Astronomy buffs geared up for meteor shower

Narendra Modi dials Lalu, enquires about health after car accident

From Ramdev stage in Haridwar, Modi swears by gurus of all hues

PIL puts Tata Motors, state govt in the dock over Nano deal