RSS chief to address 20,000 swayamsevaks in Bihar

Patna, Dec 24 (IANS) Amid high security, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat will address an expected 20,000 swayamsevaks and sympathisers here Friday, the first time in two-and-a-half decades that the organisation's head will be doing so.

The event is part of the RSS' efforts strengthen its base in caste-ridden Bihar, where a  friendly state government of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been in power for more than four years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is part of the ruling coalition.        
Bhagwat arrived here Wednesday and held talks with RSS cadres, religious heads and sadhus. He met leaders of different castes, communities and sects Thursday.        
This is Bhagwat's second visit to Bihar in two months. He attended the RSS' three-day national executive meeting at the heritage town of Rajgir in October.        
"Bhagwat, during his three-day visit, will interact with large sections of people with the sole aim of widening the RSS network and base," the organisation's regional pracharak, Swant Ranjan, said.        
He said that hundreds of RSS cadres had started arriving here to welcome Bhagwat at the public meeting at the Gandhi Maidan Friday that would be marked by a "Sarsanghachalak  Pranam".        
More than half a dozen BJP ministers in the Nitish Kumar government will be seen in the RSS uniform of khaki shorts and white shirts at the public meeting.        
However, senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Ramkirpal Yadav accused the Nitish Kumar government of welcoming RSS leaders to Bihar to create communal trouble.        
"When the RJD was in power, RSS-VHP leaders like Pravin Togadia and Ashok Singhal were not allowed to step into Bihar, but the Nitish Kumar government is treating them like state guests," he said.