RSS-BJP meet discusses Hindutva

RSS stated that there was no dilemma over projecting Modi as BJPs PM candidate.

The leaderships of the BJP and RSS discussed the core agenda of Hindutva the Ram temple,Article 370 and common civil code for an entire session on the second day of their brainstorming meeting on Monday,indicating strongly that Hindutva was set to come into increasingly sharper focus as the elections approached.

After the meeting,the RSS announced that there was no dilemma in the Parivar over the projection of Narendra Modi as the BJPs candidate for prime minister.

In one session former BJP president Nitin Gadkari spoke about the Ramjanmabhoomi movement and temple construction,Article 370,cow protection,saving the Ganga and common civil code, Manmohan Vaidya,the RSSs propaganda chief,said after the conclave.

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This session,sources said,was between 11.45 am and 1 pm on Monday,and was also attended by VHP leader Pravin Togadia. The aggressive minority politics allegedly in evidence currently across the country was discussed,sources present at the session said.

An earlier meeting of BJP,RSS and VHP leaders in January this year too had discussed the Ram temple,and the VHP had followed it up with sants at the Kumbh in Allahabad the following month. Subsequently,it launched its 84-kosi parikarama of Ayodhya in late August,despite being denied permission by the UP government.

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It8217;s for BJP to decide on Narendra Modi: RSS

BJP leaders on Monday tried to play down Vaidyas revelation about the Hindutva session at the conclave,saying this was an ideological commitment which comes up for discussion whenever such meetings happen,and that there was nothing to be alarmed.

Several BJP leaders did,however,confirm that the Sangh was back in the mood to strongly push Hindutva. The Sangh appears to be in the mood to bring these issues to the forefront, said an influential BJP functionary.

Another leader who was present at the meeting,said,The sense is that we are moving back to our Hindutva agenda.

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In response to questions on whether the BJP was facing a dilemma over declaring Modi as its candidate for PM,Vaidya said,There was no dilemma visible inside the meeting,it may be outside. But he stressed that the issue was not discussed at the meeting on Monday.

The country is looking for a change. People are looking towards the BJP for this. The party should be ready to live up to these expectations, the RSS propaganda chief quoted Sangh supremo Mohan Bhagwat as having told BJP leaders in his concluding address.

RSS leaders were learnt to have told BJP leaders to bury their differences and project a united front. A source at the meeting said the RSS chief had issued instructions that everyone should abide by the partys decision.

BJP president Rajnath Singh is learnt to have briefed RSS leaders about the partys electoral preparations. He sought the cooperation of the RSS and its affiliates in strengthening the partys organisation at the polling booth level, a source present at the meeting said.

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Another source said that Rajnath indicated that the decision to announce a prime ministerial candidate would be taken after the meeting of the BJP parliamentary board. Party sources said that the issue was clinched during the meeting that Rajnath and Modi had with top RSS leaders on Saturday.

The sources said that the parliamentary board would meet soon,probably in this month. After the meeting today,Rajnath Singh will hold a dialogue with parliamentary board members separately one last time before making an announcement. Rajnath Singh is in the mood to declare the candidate very soon, a member of the parliamentary board said on Monday.