No appraisal of government by RSS: Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today described as a "think tank" the recent meeting between RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet colleagues and made it clear that no appraisal was made of their performance by the BJP's ideological mentor.

Singh also rejected the opposition charge that RSS was running the government.

"We have discussed all issues concerning the country -- be it the economy, education, culture, national security and social harmony. It was a think tank which discussed all issues," he told PTI here.

The minister dismissed the suggestion that the Sangh had reviewed the performance of the 15-month old NDA government.

"There was no appraisal of the government. There was no discussion on good or bad (performance of the government)," he said.

The minister also said that RSS never gives directions but only suggestions, and there was nothing wrong in discussing any suggestion.

Singh said he himself was an RSS 'Swayamsevak' (worker) as was the Prime Minister and that nobody should have any problem with that.

As to the opposition's allegation that RSS was running the Modi government, he said, "There is no truth in it. It is completely baseless."

During the three-day "coordination" meeting of RSS and BJP, the top brass of the government and BJP, including senior ministers, came face-to-face with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and leading Sangh leaders.

The Prime Minister participated in the dialogue on the last day of the "coordination" meeting.

Congress had criticised the ministers for attending the meeting as it alleged that RSS was acting like a remote control and running the Modi dispensation.