Bengal politicians express shock at Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to RSS

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday expressed "shock" over former President Pranab Mukherjee attending an event at the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh's Nagpur headquarters and said he has only belittled the stature he enjoyed in Indian politics.

"We feel his attending the event is undesirable. I am shocked at what Pranabda has done," Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata. "I never expected him to attend an RSS meeting. Through his action, he has not done justice to the huge stature he enjoys in Indian politics," said Chatterjee.

Mukherjee on June 7 delivered an address at the 'Tritya Varsh' event at the Sangh headquarters. In the course of his speec, Mukherjee did some plain-speaking on nationalism and patriotism to RSS cadres, telling them that India's multiple faiths and cultures made it tolerant and that the soul of the nation resided in its pluralism and secularism.

Calling for a dialogue to balance competing interests and reconcile them, he made it clear that hatred dilutes nationalism and intolerance will dilute national identity. "Divergent stands in public discourse have to be recognised."

Adhir Chowdhury: “Pranabda didn't need to go to RSS HQ to talk about pluralism"

West Bengal's Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, was unimpressed. Lashing out at the former president, Chowdhury said there was no need for him to go to the RSS's Nagpur headquarters to give a lecture on "pluralism" and "co-existence of all" in India.

"More than what he said, what is important is who he is telling all this. Where is he saying this? What was the need?" said Chowdhury, considered close to Mukherjee.

It was Chowdhury who in 2004 persuaded Mukherjee to contest the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat and ensured his victory from the constituency then considered his stronghold. Mukherjee was re-elected in 2009. Till 2004, Mukherjee had never won an election to either the Lok Sabha or the assembly.

Chowdhury said Mukherjee in his speech has only repeated what he has been saying all these years. "Whatever he has said is nothing new. In his last address as President also, had spoken about pluralism. He had also then spoken about co-existence of all," said Chowdhury, a current Lok Sabha member and former Union Minister.

"Why did he have to go to Nagpur to say all these old matters? Why did he have to rake in so much controversy? I don't think there was any need."

Chowdhury wondered whether those who listened to Mukherjee at the RSS headquarters understood or "even tried to understand" what all he said. "My question is the stature and prestige that he has acquired as an ex-President, has he measured up to them by going to Nagpur? I want to know all these things from him," he added.