Rahul Gandhi to visit RSS headquarters, say sources

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is all set to invite Congress President and their sharpest critic, Rahul Gandhi, for an event next month in Delhi, say sources.
The event will be held between September 17 and 19. But apart from the Congress president, several other opposition leaders, like Sitaram Yechury of the Left, are also expected to be invited. However, it is doubtful, if they will attend the event.

Sources say RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address that event, which will focus on “the India of the future”. In June, the Congress was extremely upset when former president Pranab Mukherjee, a veteran leader of the party, attended an event at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and addressed workers. Though Rahul Gandhi never officially commented on the invite to Pranab Mukherjee, there were multiple tweets from party leaders expressing disappointment with “Pranab da”. After the former president’s speech, however, the Congress said Mr Mukherjee was able to show a mirror to the RSS.

RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP and is a frequent target of attacks from Rahul Gandhi. In his latest comments made in London, the Congress chief said the RSS’s idea was “similar to the idea of the Muslim brotherhood in the Arab world” and went on to draw parallels. The comparison provoked a furious response from the BJP, which demanded an immediate apology. At another event in London, Mr Gandhi said the RSS had “helped” him tremendously to develop as a political leader by “relentlessly attacking him”.

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