RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should apologise, Modi should clarify stand: Oppn

RSS Chief Mohan BhagwatThe Opposition today latched on to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats reported remarks on the Army demanding that he apologise to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify if he was in favour of a private militia guarding Indias borders The parties charged Bhagwat with insulting the armed forces and the country by claiming that in the eventuality of a battle to be fought the RSS could mobilise itself in three days while the Indian Army would take six to seven months to do soLeading the charge Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that Bhagwats remark insulted the Indian tricolour The RSS Chiefs speech is an insult to every Indian because it disrespects those who have died for our nation It is an insult to our flag because it insults every soldier who ever saluted it Shame on you Mr Bhagwat for disrespecting our martyrs and our Army ApologiseRSS he tweetedThe Congress attacked the RSS chief even as the Sangh clarified in a statement that Bhagwat had said If situation arises and the Constitution permits Indian Army would take six months to prepare society whereas Sangh swayamsevaks can be trained in three days as swayamsevaks practise discipline regularly Congresss senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the RSS chiefs statement insulted the Indian armed forcesThe RSS chief should apologise to the country and the armed forces as he has put a question mark on the capability and bravery of the Indian Army Such statements and thoughts weaken the morale of our armed forces he said Sharma called for a clarification from Modi over this The prime minister of India will have to clarify his position on this on whether he is thinking of allowing the work of national security to be handed over to the RSS rather than the Indian Army he said The Congress also organised protests across the country opposing Bhagwats statement Kerala Chief Minister and CPIM leader Pinarai Vijayan slammed Bhagwat alleging that the RSS wanted to turn India into Mussolinis Italy and Hitlers GermanyStatement confirms our worst fears about the Sangh that it has no respect for Indias institutions His statement exposes RSSs hidden agenda to float parallel militias to wreak havoc crush national unity Vijayan said on Facebook The Marxist leader said Modi should explain his governments stand on Bhagwat belittling the Indian ArmyVijayan reminded the RSS chief that running down the Army amounted to treason and Bhagwat should apologise to the people for his treacherous remark The Trinamool Congress attacked Bhagwat as well as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for defending the RSS chief alleging that it had become even more evident that the government was being remotecontrolled by the Sangh A minister of the government is supporting and defending the RSS Kiren Rijiju is not a minister of state but a minister of SanghTMC leader Derek OBrien said Referring to Bhagwats remarks and the incident in Kolkata where DG BSF K K Sharma had in uniform reportedly attended a conference on border security conducted by an RSS affiliated organisation the TMC said every constitutional institution was being marginalisedRaj Bhavans have now become shakhas and some governors have become RSS pracharaks Tripura Governor has become another troll army of the RSS OBrien said After a political row erupted over Bhagwats remarks in Bihar on the Army Minister of State for Home Rijiju today tweeted Bhagwat had only said it takes 67 months for a person to be a trained soldier and if Constitution permits RSS cadre has the ability to contributeAfter the tweet of Rijiju it has become even more evident that this government is being remotecontrolled by the RSS the Trinamool leader said The Sharad Pawarled NCP also sought an apology from the RSS saying Bhagwats remarks were an insult to Indias armed forces The RSS should apologise over such remarks NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik saidCatch up on all the latest Mumbai National and International news hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go