Author: M G Vaidya.
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 9, 2001.
This is with reference to the editorial,
‘Political Aftershocks’ (Feb 2 (sic)), in which you have said that “there
are, however, unconfirmed reports from Gujarat that the ideological bias
of the RSS towards certain communities and castes is already evident in
the task of providing relief.” Although this assertion is indicative
of the usual anti-RSS proclivity, we have been hurt by it.
RSS swayamsevaks have always been
in the forefront of providing succour and relief to victims at times of
disasters, man-made or otherwise – so much so that irrespective of the
geographical location or political situation, as in the aftermath of the
Saudi Air crash or even the Orissa cyclone, after the Latur or Uttarkashi
earthquakes, the swayamsevaks have never discriminated against any victim
on the basis of community, class or caste. Not only that, the RSS
ahs been sensitive to the sentiments and faiths even of those related to
the victims of such disasters.
Even though we are surprised by
your assertion and belief in the ‘unconfirmed’ reports, we would like to
know more details, so that we can address these lapses that have been purportedly
committed by our swayamsevaks.
