CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 16: Asserting that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was a staunch member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its all-India working committee member K Suryanarayana Rao today said the PM cannot deny this fact.Rao told mediapersons here that he agreed with Vajpayee that the term swayamsevak meant ``a volunteer'' of the country and that the same meaning was attached to the word used for identifying RSS members.``However, if the Prime Minister's clarification was meant to deny his RSS membership, then none will believe it.'' He said the clarification which followed the ``unnecessary'' controversy was ``unfortunate'' and ``sorrowful.''Stating that the PM himself had proclaimed on several earlier occasions and in Parliament that he was a ``proud'' RSS member, Rao said the Sangh was equally proud that several ministers in the Central Cabinet, including Home Minister L K Advani, were RSS swayamsevaks.Admitting that there were perceptible differences between the RSS and the Central Government over economic policies, Rao said his outfit was continuously expressing its views in this regard before the Government. He also took pains to point out that the present dispensation at the Centre was that of the NDA and not of the BJP alone.When his attention was drawn to the fact that the BJP had put its pet themes, such as the Ayodhya issue, on the backburner, the RSS leader said if the BJP pursued its agenda, the Government would fall.Dismissing the suggestion that if at all any problem arises for the NDA Government it would be from the RSS and its sister organisations, Rao said the RSS was not an NDA constituent and cannot pull the rug from under the feet of Vajpayee.On the Ayodhya issue, he said the Supreme Court had prolonged the case on temple issue and it was ``not allowed'' to deliver its judgement. This delay led to the demolition of the disputed structure, he added.Regarding BJP president Bangaru Laxman's call to the Muslims, the RSS leader said as a political party the BJP should reach out to all sections of society. He hit out at the BJP's detractors for ``branding'' the party as anti-minority for their own selfish, political ends. He disagreed with the idea that Laxman's call was a move to ``appease'' the Muslims.Replying to a question, Rao said the RSS too was open to Muslims and Christians. There were RSS office-bearers and members from these communities, he added.
