Sangh Will Advise; Not Interfere in BJP’s Affairs: Bhagwat
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has said that Sangh would not intervene in the internal matters of the BJP and party itself should find solution to the leadership issue.
It was Bhagwat’s first press conference since senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh was expelled from the party for his book on founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
He said that BJP has to “think and decide” its own future, stressing that the ideal age for leadership of the Sangh Parivar’s head was “50 to 60” years.
“We will advise and support the BJP but decision will be theirs. It is not for us to interfere in the day-to-day works of the BJP,” said Bhagwat. “The RSS does not advise BJP in matters of governance. It is for the BJP to take into account what the Sangh wants.”
About the current crisis in the BJP, the RSS said, “We are not worried (about the goings-on in the BJP) and it is immaterial whether the Sangh is happy or not happy about it.”
Referring to his recent suggestion to a TV channel that a younger leadership take over the reins of the BJP, Bhagwat said: “Fifty to sixty years is the average age for the Sangh leadership and it’s for the political party to decide what should be the right age for it.”
He also said that the RSS will not comment on the Kandahar episode.
Two crucial functionaries of the NDA government, Brajesh Mishra, close aide to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and national security advisor, and Yashwant Sinha had joined expelled leader Jaswant Singh and George Fernandes on Thursday in insisting that L K Advani was party to the decision to swap three terrorists for hostages on board IA flight IC-814.
