The Left has a new grouse, and it’s Rahul Dravid. Three weeks after the Indian cricket captain inaugurated a Surya Namaskar yoga function for schoolchildren in Nagpur, the Left parties have curiously turned it into a political issue saying he should not have been there.
The Left parties have objected to Dravid’s presence at the function because they believe it was organised by Vidya Bharati, an RSS-affiliated body that runs schools.
“Everyone knows that RSS promotes an ideology that is sectarian. It is his choice if he wants to be made use of by the RSS,” said Brinda Karat, CPI(M) politburo member.
Dravid, who is in Kolkata preparing for the first one-day match against Sri Lanka on Thursday, said he had only yoga in mind when he attended the function on January 20.
“I was invited to attend a function, where many schoolchildren were coming, to talk on the benefits of yoga. I have no political leanings,” he said.
“It is sad that this issue is being raised before the start of an important series,” he added. The RSS it seems too has used Dravid’s presence at the function for some free publicity. Its mouthpiece Panchjanya carried a report in its February 4 issue on the event, with a picture of Dravid addressing the audience.
sutirthopatranobis@hindustantimes.com