RSS — Drama, adjournments in both Houses

While Jethmalani accused Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel of having killed Mahatma Gandhi’s “spirit”, Sibal’s efforts to paint the Sangh as “a political and communal organisation” led to an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha.

Jethmalani too kicked off an uproar in the Congress benches, which quoted him as having said that Gandhi was killed by those who consented to the Partition of India since he was against it, and demanded an apology. The Law Minister, however, denied having made any such statement.

In a departure from tradition, Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah adjourned the House for 15 minutes to check the records. What she came up with left Opposition members acutely embarrassed as the records quoted Jathmalani as saying: “The spirit of Mahatma Gandhi was killed by the people who consented to Partition.”

Jethmalani earlier quoted extensively from a Supreme Court judgement defining Hindutva. “The RSS advances constitutional ethos and the philosophy of the organisation finds mention in the Indian Constitution. It believes that Ram, Rahim, Christ and Buddha are one,” he said.

It was the BJP’s turn to protest after Sibal’s speech, and the party sought the authenticity of purported quotes of RSS leaders read out by him from a publication. Alleging that the book was a Communist publication, the BJP demanded that Sibal withdraw the references. He refused to do so.

Quoting from the book, Sibal said the RSS was against minorities, had no respect for the national flag, its members were unpatriotic and believed in imperialism. “Persons like Chandra Shekhar and Bhagat Singh who gave up their lives for the country were fools,” he read out from the book. Sibal insisted that the book’s author mentioned such statements as quotes of Hedgewar and Golwalkar.

Advani said no RSS publication would have carried the comments demeaning freedom fighters. “I have read a lot against the RSS but today I felt outraged,” he said. Advani said Hedgewar was himself a freedom fighter.

Sibal said he never meant to mislead the House and would apologise if the original RSS book did not contain these quotes. But when BJP members continued to protest, the House was adjourned.