RSS to hold coordination meet in Raipur

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is set to hold a three-day coordination meeting in Raipur from September 9, close on the heels of the reconstitution of the BJP’s parliamentary board which sparked fresh questions over the RSS-BJP relationship.

The coordination meeting, one of the most important annual meetings convened by the RSS, lays emphasis on smooth functioning of the 32 organisations affiliated to the Sangh. The meeting will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the BJP’s secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, among others.

It will see presentations by different RSS-affiliated organisations, including the BJP, and challenges of coordination among them will be discussed, said senior leaders.


The meeting comes days after the reconstitution of the BJP’s parliamentary board which saw the ouster of senior minister Nitin Gadkari, who is considered close to the RSS, and inclusion of leaders such as K Laxman, Sudha Yadav, Iqbal Singh Lalpura and BS Yeddyurappa. The RSS has maintained silence over the development.

Senior RSS leaders said while there is still a lot of exchange between RSS and BJP leaders, the role and intervention of the RSS in critical political matters of the party has significantly reduced. However, most RSS leaders that ET spoke with said the organisation and its leadership was largely satisfied with the way the Narendra Modi government has been promoting social inclusion and cultural nationalism.

“The social discourse in the country is largely pro-Hindu and this is what the RSS has always wanted. The RSS is not into electoral politics and we will work alongside anyone who has people's support and is working for the country’s interest,” said a senior functionary, who did not wish to be identified.

Other issues likely to be discussed in the meeting include furthering the RSS campaigns on self-employment and empowering rural economy, countering Islamic radicalism and outreach to the Scheduled Tribes.