Puducherry BJP Ministers attend Gandhi Jayanthi in RSS uniform, critics call out

Puducherry: The BJP ministers in the NR Congress-led National Democratic Alliance government in Puducherry were found in the RSS uniform when they attended a programme organised by the RSS on Gandhi Jayanthi, on October 2.

Home Minister A Namassivayam, Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar and BJP Puducherry President V Saminathan were part of the rally, thus causing political significance to be attributed to it in the wake of no permission for the RSS rally in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

On the same day, a human chain organised by the Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance (SDPA), to counter the RSS rally, was attended by former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, MP V Vaithilingam, Pradesh Congress Committee president AV Subramaniam, Leader of the Opposition R Siva and members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and leaders from the Left parties.

Former CM Narayanasamy was said to have questioned the conscience of the RSS in holding a rally on the Gandhi Jayanti while the very man, Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Gandhi was associated with the RSS.

Meanwhile, R Mani, a senior journalist, and political analyst was quoted by The News Minute responding to Ministers attending the event wearing RSS uniforms, as saying it was not punishable, but the very posts they occupied should have been considered for restraining themselves from being a part of the RSS procession.

Mani called the decision by the RSS to hold a procession on Gandhi Jayanthi an attempt to change public perspective on the assassination of Gandhi and sever its link with it.