RSS executive meet begins today

Chitrakoot: The two day executive meet of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) began in Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

The meeting has 13 sessions in which issues pertaining to the situation in the northeast, the efforts to improve relations with Pakistan and caste violence will be discussed.

The Sangh will also talk about the rehabilitation of the people displaced in the recent earthquake in J&K and POK.

The Advani Factor

The meet has assumed great significance in the wake of the tremendous tension and the ongoing tug of war between a section of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

Though RSS spokesman Ram Madhav made it clear on Thursday night that the meeting did not have any political agenda, speculations are rife that the Sangh?s relationship with BJP were likely to be discussed albeit in an informal way.

The trouble began after Advani's remarks against the Sangh at the recent Chennai executive meet where he had charged it with interfering in the BJP's functioning.

The BJP President?s recent demand for redefining the Sangh-BJP relationship will come under the scanner, as will the issue of his successor.

Another topic under consideration will be Advani?s backing of BJP leader Uma Bharati's recent letter to the RSS chief K S Sudarshan.

In the letter Bharati had accused top Sangh functionary Suresh Soni and BJP general secretary Sanjay Joshi of conspiring against her.

Attempts have been made to completely sideline Advani, who has not been invited for the meeting, in order to ensure that other BJP leaders toe the Sangh line.

Madhav?s outburst against the UPA government yesterday has indicated that the Union government's performance would also come under scanner in the meeting.

The meeting will focus on allegations that the UPA government has not taken a tough stand on cross-border terrorism. The Sangh leaders will also discuss UPA's policies towards minorities.