RSS a nationalist organization: Kiran Bedi

The newly unducted leader and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi praised the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) on Wednesday, calling it a “nationalist organization”. She also said the organization has kept India united.

While she criticized the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, she was full of praises for the RSS, and said that people do not know the real RSS.

Kiran Bedi [Source: PTI Photo]

The Times of India quoted Bedi as saying, “The city of Delhi was the reason for my joining politics. Delhi has gone through a huge upheaval ever since this man’s (Kejriwal) entry (into politics). It stood still and it’s been only on an agitation mode which left a very bad taste in the mouth of Indians. Because whatever happens in Delhi, happens in India. It affects India, it impacts India. It’s been all about confrontation, it’s all about Rajpath Dharnas. What kind of person is he (Kejriwal) who says I am an anarchist? Three days Delhi was standstill (when Kejriwal was on dharna as chief minister).”

No sooner had Ms Bedi made this statement than the BJP leaders spoke in her defence, which was more than obvious. BJP leader Prabhat Jha told the media, “I am a swayamsevak of the RSS and Kiran Bedi has rightly stated that the RSS is a ‘nationalist organisation’.”

Meanwhile, the Congress blamed Bedi of provocative statements. Congress leader J P Agrawal told ANI, “Her [Kiran Bedi] ideology is to break and divide the nation. The BJP’s respective leaders always indulge in controversial statements. One should stay away from such provocative politics.” He added, “Now, when Kiran Bedi is in BJP, everyone has to salute Kiran Bedi, be it the BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena or even the Vanar Sena.”

Bedi’s statement has come in when the RSS is said to be unhappy with her being declared as the CM candidate.

Social Activist Anna Hazare, of whose movement Bedi was an active part, said in his first reaction: “I don’t want to talk about Kiran Bedi & dirt in politics,” as tweeted by the Times Now.

Both Bedi and Kejriwal were a part of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, but the two had parted ways ever since Kejriwal started his political party.

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash