Belagavi, July 10 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday began its three-day Prant Pracharak meeting in Karnataka’s Belagavi, bringing together senior functionaries from across the country to deliberate on the organisation’s activities and future plans.

The meeting, being held from July 10 to 12 at Anagol’s Meera School, is being chaired by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.

More than 136 senior RSS functionaries and prominent personalities are participating in the event, including representatives from 11 regions and office-bearers of 32 RSS-affiliated organisations.

Among those attending are RSS Sarkaryawah Dattatreya Hosabale, Dr Krishna Gopal, C.R. Mukunda and BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh.

According to RSS, the annual meeting will review the organisation’s activities over the past year and finalise plans for its programmes and expansion initiatives in the coming months.

The deliberations are expected to include discussions on expanding RSS shakhas, strengthening coordination among Sangh-affiliated organisations, reviewing the functioning of educational institutions run by RSS-linked bodies and other organisational matters. The meeting is also expected to discuss recent controversies, including allegations related to the Ayodhya Ram Temple fund.

The Prant Pracharak meeting is considered one of the RSS’s most important internal organisational gatherings, where senior office-bearers assess progress, exchange feedback from different regions and finalise the roadmap for nationwide activities.

Meanwhile, the meeting triggered a fresh political exchange between the ruling Congress and the BJP.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge questioned the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) over the alleged Ayodhya Ram Temple fund fraud, saying the organisations should publicly clarify their position.

“You took credit for the construction of the Ram Temple. The accused, including Champat Rai and others, are associated with the VHP. Let them come out and explain. Why were you silent when the allegations surfaced? The VHP was founded under the guidance of M.S. Golwalkar of the RSS. If you take credit for the temple, you should also answer these allegations,” Kharge said.

He added that merely issuing statements on social media was insufficient and demanded that the organisations explain their accountability.

“Whatever resolutions they adopt at their meeting are their internal matter, and it is none of my business. But they must publicly answer how the funds were handled and what accountability exists,” he said.

Responding to Kharge’s remarks, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje accused him of focusing more on the RSS than on law and order in Karnataka.

“Priyank Kharge has become the RSS Minister. Not a day goes by without him talking about the RSS. He does not speak about rapes, the drug network, murders or other law-and-order issues affecting the state,” she alleged.

Karandlaje further claimed that Kharge believed criticising the RSS was necessary to retain his ministerial position and to strengthen his father’s position in the Congress party.

“He has no concern for Karnataka’s interests. Which district has he visited to review the deteriorating law and order situation? Several districts are witnessing violent crimes and attacks in broad daylight. Instead of addressing these issues, he continues to target the RSS,” she said.

The three-day RSS meeting will conclude on July 12 after senior functionaries finalise the organisation’s agenda and programmes for the coming year.

–IANS

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