Congress wants probe into RSS-Abhinav Bharat 'linkages'

With Hindu outfits coming under suspicion in the 2007 Ajmer dargah blast case, Congress today sought a thorough investigation to "discern the linkages" between Abhinav Bharat and RSS alleging the latter is the "fountainhead" of Hindu fundamentalist thought.

With Hindu outfits coming under suspicion in the 2007 Ajmer dargah blast case, Congress on Saturday sought a thorough investigation to "discern the linkages" between Abhinav Bharat and RSS alleging the latter is the "fountainhead" of Hindu fundamentalist thought.

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"It is disturbing that the name of Abhinav Bharat is repeatedly cropping up in various bomb blast-related investigations. The organisation, a self-proclaimed right-wing militia, has embryonic linkages with the Hindu fundamentalist school of thought. RSS is the fountainhead of this school of thought," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said.

"Hence there must be holistic investigations to discern the linkages of Abhinav Bharat and to find out where it fits
into the larger RSS pantheon," he said.

Tewari said that the present and the past of RSS has always been "shrouded in suspicion". "From the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi to the Malegaon blast and now the emerging contours from the Ajmer investigations make it very clear that while they profess to believe in cultural nationalism, their tactics possibly borders on some sort of terrorism," Tewari said.

"What is the position of the Abhinav Bharat in the larger Sangh Parviar? How does the organisation relate to RSS? What is the connection between all these people considering that in Malegaon, you had photographs of a former BJP President appearing with one of the prime accused," Tewari asked.

RSS on Saturday said its name was being dragged into the Ajmer blast case to malign its image. "Efforts are being made to drag the name of Sangh in the (Ajmer) blast case...innocent people and organisations like Sangh are being maligned," RSS leader Ram Madhav told reporters.