RSS is a mass movement, part of Indian `mosaic`: German envoy |
Walter Lindner says as a German he was conscious of organisation`s history during the 1930s-40s Terming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh a “mass movement” in India, German Ambassador Walter Lindner said his visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur was part of his attempt to understand the “Indian mosaic”.Speaking to The Hindu about the criticism he has faced over the visit, including one online petition that is calling for his resignation or recall, Mr. Lindner said he had visited Nagpur to review progress in the city`s Metro project which Germany has helped finance, and decided to also meet with RSS Sarsanghchalak (chief) Mohan Bhagwat. “I went to educate myself about the organisation,” said Mr. Lindner. “I had read very negative and very positive articles about it, everything from its social engagement to accusations of fascism, and I wanted to make my own impression. So I asked Mr. Bhagwat many questions.” Mr. Lindner`s visit was considered unusual as very few foreign diplomats have made interactions with the RSS public, although a group of ambassadors had met Mr. Bhagwat in Delhi some years ago. In a tweet about his meeting, Mr. Lindner had written that the RSS, “Founded [in] 1925, it is [the] world`s largest voluntary organization — though not uncontroversially perceived throughout its history.”
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