RSS flays Nitish's remark on 'secular' PM candidate

Latur (Maha), Jun 20: Amid the flutter created by

's remark that

's Prime Ministerial candidate should have secular credentials,

chief Mohan Bhagwat today hit out at the Bihar Chief Minister, saying he was pandering to his vote bank.

"Nitish Kumar has said NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 elections should be secular. He has made the statement so that his vote bank remains intact," Bhagwat told a meeting of RSS volunteers here.

According to those present in the meeting which was out of bounds for the media, Bhagwat also described Hinduism as an "all-inclusive" religion and wondered why a "Hinduwadi" should not become the Prime Minister.

"Hinduism is the religion of humanism. You are right and we are also right, Hinduism follows this broad philosophy," he was quoted as having said. To keep alive the Hindu ideology, the Hindu 'samaaj' should come together and the country should have a prime minister who believes in that ideology or propounds that view, he is reported to have said.

In Delhi, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said that Hindutva is the "true synonym" for secularism and is liberal as it embraces all other religions.

"To portray it (Hindutva) as anti-secular is not correct and narrow minded. Hindutva is the true synonym for secularism... We have always felt that Hindutva is the ideological anchor of RSS and it is liberal, all embracing and a secular idea," he told reporters.

He also said that what its chief Mohan Bhagwat said while addressing its swayamsevaks should not be viewed in the context of the present political situation in the country.

"It is uncalled for to link his view to day-to-day happenings on the political front and statements of certain leaders," Madhav said.

PTI