Congress demands CM Thackeray remove pro-RSS staff from State Varsities

Congress leader Deshmukh writes to CM Thackeray; Fears JNU-like incidents in Maharashtra by pro-RSS appointees made by BJP across state universities

By: Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Taking the cue from the recent violent incidents in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a aggressive Congress in Maharashtra has demanded removal of all appointees owing allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In a four-page letter addressed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Congress leader Ashish Deshmukh has requested the state government to revoke all appointments of pro-RSS staff from all the state universities.

Alleging that right-wing Hindu organizations, like the RSS, and their ideology are responsible for stirring violence in educational institutions, he remarked “the JNU Vice-Chancellor is pro-RSS man. From the incident at JNU, we can imagine what may happen if such individuals head our universities. If we do not want JNU-like situation in Maharashtra, then the appointment of all pro-RSS staff, be it a peon or a VC all must be revoked,” Deshmukh said in a telephonic conversation with thenews21 correspondent.

Deshmukh, who had last week said that he would apprise CM Thackeray over the subject, on 12 January submitted a formal letter to the Chief Minister’s Office.

“Organizations of Hindu right-wing mentality are attempting to dominate the education field. The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Devendra Fadnavis had strategically appointed all such individuals on key posts in every university of Maharashtra. If they are not removed, then the BJP and its affiliates would soon vitiate the atmosphere in our campuses,” alleged Deshmukh.

Meanwhile, rebuking the allegations leveled by the Congressman, West Zone In-charge of Media Relations for the RSS, Pramod Bapat responded by saying that it was nothing more than a political demand.

“The Sangh will not officially respond to this, as it is a political demand made by Deshmukh. It is not a question for the RSS, so there cannot be a response upon it. Opposing one’s ideology is okay but saying that you do not want people following a particular ideology in an institution is absurd. The RSS followers come from all walks of life and we represent the society at large,” Bapat said in a telephonic conversation.

The RSS appointee further added that the demands made by the Congress leader are an attempt to be in news. With a practice of the new government investigating all political appointments made by the previous one, Deshmukh training his guns on the RSS, “is an attempt to kick-up some controversy. And we will never allow the RSS to be used for one,” Bapat concluded.