Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s address at an RSS event in Nagpur generated considerable debate on whether it signifies the veteran Congressman's proximity to the right-wing organisation. Many considered it as marking political U-turn for Mukherjee, who has been closely associated with the Congress ever since the days of Indira Gandhi.
In his speech to the RSS cadre on Thursday, 7 June, Mukherjee emphasised on India's pluralism, warning that any attempt to define India through "religion, dogma or intolerance" will only dilute the country's identity. Hours before his speech, Mukherjee also paid a visit to the birthplace of KB Hedgewar, the RSS founder, and called him "a great son of Mother India".
But many are wondering what Mukherjee has said about the RSS in the past? As a Congress leader, has he condemned the Sangh and if so, then how?
As it turns out, the former President's thoughts about the RSS in the past can be gleaned to some extent from a political resolution that he had moved in December 2010 during the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) 83rd plenary session in Burari, Delhi.
The resolution reportedly asked the then UPA government to "investigate links between terrorists and the RSS and its sister organisations that have been uncovered in some recent cases".
The role of religious fundamentalist organisations in challenging the security of the nation can no longer be ignored.Congress resolution moved by Pranab Mukherjee, as quoted by India Today
The passing of this resolution was purportedly triggered by incidents such as the Mecca Masjid blast in 2007 and the Malegaon bombings in 2006.
Notably, Mukherjee was serving as finance minister under the UPA-II government when this resolution was passed.
It is said that after Pranab Mukherjee became President in 2012, he had a cordial relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During his tenure as President, Mukherjee also reportedly met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat twice, which included a lunch meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
According to RSS members, as many as four more meetings have taken place between Mukherjee and Bhagwat since the former stepped down as President, which excludes Thursday’s event where both of them shared the dais.
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