RSS says Aurangzeb irrelevant today, distances from controversy

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) spokesperson, Sunil Ambekar, on Wednesday condemned the Nagpur violence and stated that 17th-century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is “not relevant” in India anymore.

Ambekar,who is also the Skhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha’s (ABPS) publicity head, added that any form of violence is detrimental to society’s well-being while distancing himself from the controversy.

He was speaking in Bengaluru ahead of the three-day annual meeting of ABPS being held after four years in the state.


His comments come days after violent clashes broke out between two groups over demands to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, located in Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra. Earlier, workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had staged a protest demanding the removal of the emperor’s tomb.

During the clashes, two bulldozers and 40 vehicles, including police vans were torched, injuring 33 police personnel, including three deputy commissioners of police, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday. He also described the incident as premeditated.

The RSS spokesperson stated that the police have taken cognizance of the matter but refrained from making any further comments on the controversy. So far, the police have detained 50 individuals.

Speaking about the annual meeting scheduled from March 21-23, Ambekar said two key resolutions would be discussed--one addressing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the other outlining the future roadmap of the Sangh as the organisation celebrates its centenary year.

When asked about the decline in youngsters enrolling in ‘shakhas,’ the ABPS spokesperson defended the organisation’s outreach efforts, saying, “Our karyakartas have reached even the remotest areas. More and more youngsters are joining the RSS every year. We are witnessing 1.2 lakh new enrollments annually, and many are reaching out to us through our website.”

The meeting will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, BJP president JP Nadda, all joint general secretaries, and other executive committee members, the ABPS said.