New Delhi, Dec 29: Taking a different stand from the BJP, the RSS on Monday said that it was opposed to the creation of Gorkhaland as “it would not solve the problems of the hills”.
RSS West Bengal spokesman Asim Kumar Mitra told “Our views are not always identical with that of the BJP. Problems at places like Lalgarh, Darjeeling cropped up because of gross lack of development. But we are opposed to any division of our land (West Bengal). This will not solve any problem.”
While Darjeeling MP and former BJP leader Jaswant Singh openly supported the demand, other BJP leaders extended their support in different ways. Even the state BJP kept mum when it was asked for its opinion on the creation of Gorkhaland.
The RSS in West Bengal is now gearing up for the visit of Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagawat, who will reach Kolkata on January 22 and address a rally at Shahid Minar the next day. This is Bhagawat’s first visit to West Bengal after he took over as the RSS chief.
“The country is going through a very critical time and our Sarsanghachalak is visiting various parts of the country to spread the ideals of the Sangh and what Swayamsevaks should do during this time. Here he will have interactive sessions with top leaders and will give us guidance,” Ajit Kumar Biswas, a senior pracharak and one of the organisers of Bhagawat’s rally said.
The Sangh will try to mobilise about one lakh people for the rally and it has asked its shakhas (branches) to gear up for that. “All our swayamsevaks are prepared for the rally. We are also using this opportunity to go in for a fresh drive to enroll more swayamsevaks,” a pracharak told.
The RSS in West Bengal has 2,000 shakhas and about 12,000 members
–Agencies