2016: RSS holds secret parleys

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, August 17: With an eye to the 2016 Assembly elections, top leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held a series of "secret" meetings with the Sangh's associate organizations in the last three days, in a determined bid to strengthen its base in the State.

The three-day long deliberations, attended by senior leaders like Krish Gopal, general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi and assistant general secretary, concluded today.

Sources told The Sentinel the RSS leaders on Sunday also met some senior state bureaucrats who have ideological proximity to the Sangha Parivar.

On Monday, the right-wing leaders held a close-door meeting with affiliate organizations, including Kalyan Ashram, VHP, ABVP, Sevika Samity, Itihas Sankalan Samity and Sanskar Bharti, besides the BJP.

"The RSS leaders wanted to know about our presence at the grassroots. Strategies were discussed to expand the base in the State," a participant in today's meeting said.

For more than a year now, the RSS has been trying to reinforce its base in Assam, holding meetings at various places. Its central leaders have been frequently visiting the State.