Pranab Mukherjee’s firm response on accepting the invitation for RSS function

It had been received with shock by many Congress leaders Pranab Kumar Mukherjee’s acceptance of the RSS invitation to their function. Upon a question by the Bengal daily AnandaBazar Patrika Pranab da said,”Whatever I have to say, I will say in Nagpur. I have received several letters, requests and phone calls, but I haven’t responded to anyone yet”.

The 82-year-old former President’s decision has been demanded a reconsideration by many of his former party colleagues as well as the Congress leaders. Many have been apprehensive about the optics of the matter, pointing to what they call the divisive nature of the RSS, ideological mentor of the ruling BJP.

See also:Nothing surprising in the invitation to former president Pranab Mukherjee to address RSS cadre

Pranab Kumar Mukherjee was asked to back down from the function by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress leader Jayaram Ramesh, former Union Minister C.K.Jaffer Sharief and the party’s Bengal Unit leader Adhir Choudhary. While some maintained that it was important to see what he would tell at the valedictory function of Sangh Shiksha Varg on June 7.

During the tenure as a President, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee had repeatedly expressed his views without ever exceeding the constitutional boundary and he was vociferous on rising intolerance, instances of violence mob frenzy. He has made his contributions towards the debates on free speech, nationalism and intolerance. Above all, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee has been an admirer of PM Narendra Modi.

Last week, Pranab Da’s former Cabinet colleague P.Chidambaram on the issue of accepting RSS invitation, said,”The more important thing to say is, ‘Sir you have accepted the invitation, please go there and tell them what is wrong with their ideology’.”
BJP has expressed their happiness in the Former president’s decision to attend the RSS function and they feel that it is a chance to start the dialogues. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said,”Pranab Mukherjee’s acceptance of the invitation is a good start. Political untouchability is not good”