Basu denies blaming RSS for Gandhiji’s murder

Calcutta, March 21: West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu today said that he had never held the RSS responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but merely stated that the assassin was inspired’ by the RSS ideology.

Commenting on RSS chief K S Sudarshan’s reported threat to sue those who had linked the RSS with Gandhiji’s killing, Basu told newsmen at the state secretariat “I never said that RSS was involved in Gandhiji’s assassination. My speech is recorded in the Assembly. I only said that the person who assassinated Gandhiji was inspired by the RSS ideology."

"He (the assasin) was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and not that of the RSS," he added.

Reacting to Sudarshan’s reported comment that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be built within six months, Basu in a sarcastic vein said, "Let them do it. You can ask Sudarshan about it".

Basu also described as "rubbish" the media reports that he was planning to relinquish the office of the Chief Minister this year.

He declined to comment on his contesting the next assembly election in the state.