George objects to RSS chief’s praise for Indira

Taking exception to RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan’s admiration of Indira Gandhi, nda convenor George Fernandes today wrote to him, saying any appreciation of the late PM amounted to “endorsement of dictatorship”.

“I was shocked to read your statement that the rss admired (Indira) Gandhi, though you are right when you say that Pandit Nehru was responsible for all problems facing the country,” Fernandes says in the letter to Sudarshan. He wondered how the rss could admire a person who went on to say her “emergency rule” meant even the right to life had been withdrawn, “as Hitler had done in Germany”.

Acknowledging the receipt of the letter, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said: “We would like to reiterate that Sudarshan had not complimented Gandhi in his speech at Lucknow on Sunday. He, in fact, criticised the imposition of emergency.”

Describing Fernandes as a “senior and respected leader”, Madhav said he apparently reacted to media reports. “We are sure Fernandes is also aware of the great struggle that RSS had waged against emergency”. He said Sudarshan will reply to the letter as soon as he returns to Nagpur. —ENS & Agencies