From Temple To Healthcare, RSS To Discuss "National Issues" At Mega Event

The Ayodhya issue will be one of the key areas that will be discussed at the three-day RSS outreach in Delhi that kicks off on Monday, people with direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV. Organisers and insiders that NDTV spoke to said all issues of "national importance" would be discussed, including the Ram temple and cattle conservation.

"We welcome all discussions and criticisms," vice president of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Alok Kumar, said when contacted by NDTV.

Sources said other issues like agriculture, rural healthcare and economy would be equally important parts of the discussions that have been split into three days.

The highlight of the event will be on Wednesday when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will devote an hour-and-a-half taking questions from the special invitees.

The invitees, however, would have to write their questions down and submit them before they are selected for the RSS head to answer.

The invitation list is being kept top secret after the controversy over former President Pranab Mukherjee being invited, and covers top bureaucrats, scientists, ex-service chiefs and all political parties. "Anyone who is seen as a key decision maker in their party is being invited," said an organiser.

"Political and social untouchability should be removed and there should be a free and frank dialogue across the spectrum," said Alok Kumar, recalling a story of how he met Salman Khurshid at an event and invited him home when he said he was from the RSS.

"He said because he had only heard about RSS from a third party, so he wanted to hear about it from me," Mr Kumar said. Salman Khurshid has been invited to the RSS event on Monday.

It is not known which other political party was going to attend.

"We leave it to our invitees to decide but we won't release their names," said Rajiv Tuli, who handles the media.

Thirty people from every sector are being invited and in all more than 1,000 guests are on the list. "Attending an RSS event is not against service rules," said a spokesperson.

Leaders of different faiths are also invited. While the media is invited, cameras won't be allowed. However, for the first time, RSS will be providing a live feed of the entire event.