Pranab Mukherjee has shown mirror to RSS from its own platform: Congress

The Congress on Thursday said that Pranab Mukherjee has shown the mirror of the truth of India's pluralism to the RSS from its own platform.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala / Image: PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday said that Pranab Mukherjee has shown the mirror of the truth of India's pluralism to the RSS from its own platform. Addressing the media after Mukherjee's speech, Congress' media in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the former president has reminded the RSS that India's beauty lies in its tolerance* for different ideas, religions and languages. "Pranab Mukherjee has reminded the RSS of the history of India. He taught the RSS that India's beauty lies in its tolerance for different ideas, religions and languages," Surjewala said. "Is RSS ready to admit its mistakes and ready to adapt India's pluralism, secularism and diversity? Will RSS give up its prejudice towards women and marginalised? Will it give up its inherent character of subjugation and violence? Surjewala asked. Earlier in the day, Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said images of former president Pranab Mukherjee at the RSS headquarters had anguished millions of party workers and those who believe in pluralism and diversity of the Indian republic. Anand Sharma took to Twitter to express his anguish soon after images of Mukherjee attending a function at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur appeared on television. "The images of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS Headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic," Sharma said. "Dialogue can only be with those who are willing to listen, absorb and change. There is nothing to suggest that RSS has moved away from his core agenda as it seeks legitimacy," he added. The tweet came in response to the RSS stating, following the controversy over Mukherjee's visit, that dialogue was important, central to RSS ideology and an old tradition of the country.