Haryana: RSS throws its weight behind Centre, plans week-long session at ‘shakhas’

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has put its weight behind the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and make the muchhyped International Yoga Day, on June 21, a success. The Haryana chapter of RSS plans to hold yoga sessions for swayamsevaks and others for a week, beginning June 21, at all its 1,000 shakhas across the state.

“Yoga sessions will be held from 5 am to 7.30 am at all our shakhas. We are giving our total support. Yoga ek vaigyanik tareeke ki vyayam hai aur logon ko isse apnana chahiye (Yoga is a scientific method of exercise. People should adopt it),” RSS prant sanghachalak major Kartar Singh (retired) told Hindustan Times. Major Singh said that the district committees had made appeals to people to participate in the yoga sessions.

“In Hisar, Bharat Vikas Parishad (social service wing of RSS) will organise yoga sessions from June 21 to 27 at Tau Devi Lal Park. The response is encouraging. Similarly, we will hold camps at all shakhas to teach yoga,” he said.

The RSS’ view was conveyed through its publication Organiser, which, in an editorial in the latest issue, has described the International Yoga Day as a celebration of “India’s civilizational contribution to humanity”.

The Sangh Parivar mouthpiece also criticised detractors of the high-profile event for “raking up controversies”.

SPREADING ITS WINGS

Though its presence has been traditionally limited to some pockets of Haryana, the RSS has slowly started to 3gain traction in the state in the last one year.

The number of people showing interest in its activities and turning up at the morning shakhas has risen. “There is growing curiosity among the people, especially the youth, to know more about the organisation. Our work is being noticed,” said the prant sanghachalak.

The annual three-week camp, Sangha Shiksha Varga, held by the organisation for “education and character building exercise” used to get around 250 participants.

However, the number of participants, who have to bear their expenses, at the residential camp, currently underway at Narwana, has trebled this time.

A SHAKHA IN EVERY VILLAGE

The RSS state unit is keen to expand its footprint and has set forth the goal of reaching every village.

“There are 6,500 villages. We want to have a shakha in every village in rural areas and in urban areas a shakha for every 10,000 population,” said the prant sanghachalak without specifying any time limit.

On the popular perception that the BJP’s emergence as the party of power in Haryana for the first time is helping the RSS spread its wings in the state, Major Singh denied any connection.

“Ours is a government-neutral organization. We do our work irrespective of which party is in power,” he claimed.