Sangh leader alleges RSS link to V D Satheesan in 2001, 2006 polls
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Kochi: A senior leader of the Sangh Parivar, R V Babu, on Saturday alleged that UDF chairman V D Satheesan had approached Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders in 2001 and 2006 seeking their support to win Assembly elections, a charge firmly denied by the Congress leader.
Satheesan rejected the allegation, asserting that he had never sought votes from the RSS or the Bharatiya Janata Party. He claimed that Babu, who resides in the Paravoor constituency from where he is contesting, was opposed to the Congress due to remarks made against him by the party.
Babu, the state president of the pro-RSS outfit Hindu Aikya Vedi, told a television channel that Satheesan had earlier denied attending an RSS event in 2006 but has now admitted to it.
“So, who is lying? Similarly, in future, he will be forced to admit that he had sought RSS help in 2001 and 2006 to win the Assembly polls,” Babu said.
He further claimed that the Congress party’s current stance towards the RSS differed from its position in 2001 and 2006. Babu also alleged that Satheesan, after suffering a “pathetic” defeat to CPI leader P Raju in 1996, sought RSS support to secure electoral victories later. He added that he wants Satheesan to be defeated and described both the UDF and LDF as “two sides of the same coin.”
Responding to the allegations, Satheesan said Babu’s desire to see him lose itself proves there was no understanding with the RSS or BJP. He categorically denied seeking support from the right-wing organisation in 2001 or 2006 and reiterated his earlier claims of links between the RSS and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
He also questioned whether the People's Democratic Party, which has extended support to the CPI(M), could be considered secular. “When the CPI(M) questions the support we receive from the Welfare Party of India and Jamaat-e-Islami, we can question them about the PDP,” he said.
Satheesan further alleged that the CPI(M) has a problem with the Welfare Party only because it is backing the UDF. He also accused the party of protecting its leaders named in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation cases.
Additionally, the opposition leader urged the central government to withdraw its proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), warning that the changes could adversely affect public charity and welfare activities carried out by non-governmental organisations.
With PTI inputs