It's for BJP to decide on second term for Nitin Gadkari as party president: RSS

NEW DELHI: RSS, which has distanced itself from Nitin Gadkari, said it was up to BJP to decide on a second term for him as the party president. Gadkari, who was handpicked by RSS for BJP top post, is under fire over controversial business dealings. Purti Power and Sugar Ltd, a company controlled by him, is under the scrutiny of tax agencies for its links with shell companies run from fictitious addresses.

RSS on Sunday claimed they had no role in the selection of the BJP chief. "It is not an issue of RSS. Political parties have their own system and their core group. We are not playing any role," an agency report from Chennai quoting RSS general secretary Suresh Joshi said. His remarks came in response to a question whether RSS would endorse a second term for Gadkari. RSS had earlier said that the law should take its own course and that the organisation did not have a soft corner for anyone.

Joshi said a "thorough probe" was required on the charges against Gadkari, but added the charges had not been proven. To a question if RSS would initiate an independent inquiry against Gadkari, he said there was no such provision in the organisation.

Suresh Joshi evaded a direct reply on RSS choice for BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and said: "It is not our issue."