New Delhi, Oct. 26: The RSS has formally distanced itself from the alleged financial shenanigans of Nitin Gadkari, saying it had nothing to do with the controversy arising out of allegations of dubious funding for companies run by the BJP president.
The Sangh stressed that it was “an article of faith” with it that any individual or organisation “indulging in an illegal activity must be subjected to an impartial probe” and be punished, if found guilty.
BJP sources construed the assertion as not just an indictment of Gadkari, but a message to him that he must not deploy his “proximity” to the RSS, and specifically to its boss, Mohanrao Bhagwat, to make a case for continuing in office and possibly wangle a second term.
Bhagwat’s hand in Gadkari’s anointment and his effort to get him an extended tenure by tweaking the BJP constitution — a move that was opposed by party seniors L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi — were visible to the BJP. Gadkari, in turn, leveraged his “comfort level” with the RSS chief to establish his hold over the BJP.
A Sangh source, unwilling to be named, said: “We are clear that we will not defend any shady deal.”
The source also made it clear that the issue of whether Gadkari will serve out his remaining tenure and get a second term was “purely in the BJP’s domain” and that the Sangh would not “intervene” even if he was asked to step down before December 19, when he is due to demit office.
A statement issued by Suresh “Bhaiyyaji” Joshi, the RSS sarkaryavah or general secretary, said: “In the last few days, media has been making allegations about certain irregularities in the corporate affairs of some political leaders. These allegations have caused a lot of consternation in the general public. We are deeply saddened by the efforts to drag the RSS’s name into these allegations and to cast aspersions on an organisation of Sangh’s stature.”
Joshi, second in the Sangh hierarchy after Bhagwat, added: “Everyone in the country knows that the Sangh has nothing to do with any of these allegations. In fact, it has been an article of faith with the RSS that any individual or organisation indulging in any illegal activity must be subjected to an impartial probe and punished if found guilty.”
Uncharacteristically, Sangh officials called up reporters and urged them to “play up” Joshi’s statement and ensure “no erroneous perceptions” about the organisation persisted.
Sources said that last evening, Gadkari — who has stayed put in his Nagpur since the controversy over his “ghost” companies broke — was summoned by Bhagwat to the RSS headquarters and told not to drag him in his defence. It is learnt that the BJP chief protested his innocence and submitted a long note, answering the charges levelled by the media.
As a balm of sorts to Gadkari, RSS’s Joshi said the fight against corruption should be “held at a non-political and non-partisan level” so that people’s “faith” in the nation was “not shaken” by “sensationalism and carelessness”.
RSS sources, however, refuted speculation that Bhagwat would be in Delhi tonight or tomorrow to consult the BJP brass on Gadkari’s fate.
The sources said that in a couple of days, the RSS chief is headed to Chennai where the Sangh will hold its working committee meeting from November 2.
A BJP source said Joshi’s “clarifications” could facilitate a decision on Gadkari within the party.
He explained that in the absence of a signal from Nagpur, even senior leaders, squirming at the thought of having a “tainted” helmsman, were unwilling to speak their minds out and risk annoying Bhagwat.
Various options for a post-Gadkari phase were discussed.
