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Journalism of Courage
VISAKHAPATNAM, OCT 27: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday demanded imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal, alleging breakdown of law and order in that state.
Talking to reporters on the deliberations at the ongoing three-day meeting of the Diwali baithak’ of the 112 RSS pracharakas here, national executive member and RSS spokesman M G Vaidya and Andhra unit president Dr Siva Prasad claimed West Bengal was a "fit" case for the imposition of President’s Rule.
The ruling CPI(M) men, abetted by the Left Front government had let loose reign of terror against those who did not subscribe to their political ideology. The Trinamool Congress and the BJP workers were targetted by these groups killing many of them, they alleged.
The meeting expressed its concern over the "distressing" developments in that State where the people had to suffer the violence unleashed by the ruling party "hoodlums", besides the unprecedented floods.
To a question, they RSS leader said the Trinamool Congress had long been at the receiving end as it was in the Opposition.
They, however, suggested similar treatment in states ruled by the BJP allies, like in Andhra Pradesh, which was witnessing upsurge in extremist activities.
To another question, they said, the RSS was not in favour of signing the CTBT till the United States signed it and the nuclear powers destroyed all their stocks. India should continue testing of nuclear weapons, they added.
Parrying a question as to whether Vajpayee or Advani would make a better Prime Minister, the RSS leaders said, "We do not weigh personalities, but policies."
They said the RSS, however, had reservations on some decisions of the Centre on the economic front which favoured unrestricted entry of foreign capital and removal of the ban on import of 1,400 items at the cost of the indigenous industry, which was bound to weaken the Indian market.
The RSS leaders said the organistion was not opposed to liberalisation so long it encouraged the indigenous industry. They also censured the BJP-led government’s policy to open up the insurance and other sectors to global players.
Reiterating the idea of indigenisation of the church, the RSS leaders said the church needed to develop a secular outlook towards other faiths in the country, which they claimed, was lacking with the Vatican as was evident from a recent Papal encyclical. They said the mass contact programmes of the RSS through its 30,000 and odd shakhas (units) would continue till January 2001.
