Right wing organisation mentored by Sangh leaders invites Malala to India to speak, gets a polite denial

CHENNAI: Sri Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living might not be too happy with Malala getting the Nobel prize but a right wing organisation called Intergrated Talent Development Mission that closely works with the RSS, has invited Malala to speak as the main guest on 'the role of youth in peace and development in South Asia,' to be held later this year.

ITDM has been closely working with sangh in its outreach efforts especially in the North East.

According to sources in the organisation, Malala has responded to their invitation saying she is honoured by the proposal but will visit India only after she visits Pakistan.

The organisation lists former secretary-general of the Lok Sabha Subash Kashyap, journalist Ram Bahadur Rai and RSS joint secretary Krishnagopal among its mentors. Members said Krishnagopal who belongs to the senior rung of RSS leaders is among the driving forces behind this organisation members of which are employed in the government and cultural institutions across the country.

Tanistha Arora, general secretary of ITDM said the organisation was made of "like minded members committed to the right wing ideology." "We decided on having Malala as the main guest because we want her to inspire the women of our country to fight evil forces. This is the land that has given birth to Rani Laxmibai, Indian women should remember that to reach greater heights."

The organisation main focus is promoting patriotism, especially in North eastern States and spreading a unified Indian cultural ethos across the country, she said, adding, Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subashchandra Bose are among its icons.

Sources in the organisation said after they sent her an invite Malala had sent them a response "politely declining" the invitation "because she is fully focused on her school studies, and she feels strongly about first visiting her native country of Pakistan before making her first trip to India. Also, it is not yet clear when Malala will make her first return trip to Pakistan."

The other names being considered by the members of the organisation on the guest list are Dalai Lama, Tarek Fateh from Canada, Aung san suu kyi from myanmar, Kailash satyarthi, Sadhguru jaggi vasudev."Since Malala the main guest cannot make it we are working out new logistics for the event," a member said.