RSS HQ has a chequered history

Nagpur, June 1 (UNI) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters at Mahal here, which was the target of militants today, has a chequered history and was once even described as ''Bhutacha wada (haunted)''.

The history of the building dates back to 1908 when revolutionary activities were carried out from there by RSS leaders like Dr Kankhoje, Dr Hedgewar and Bhanji Kaware even before the RSS came into existence, according to organisation analyst Deelip Deodhar.

The building was used by secret agents during the freedom movement till 1926. The building was dilapidated and remained unused and was often described as ''Bhutacha wada''.

On May 28, 1926, Dr Hedgewar renovated the building and the first ''Sangh Sakha'' was started in its premises.

Earlier, RSS leaders had helped coordinate a Congress convention in the premises in 1920.

RSS leaders Dr J P Paranjape, who was the chief convenor of the Bharat Swayamsevak Sangh, and Dr Hedgewar, who was its deputy chief, had deputed 1200 activists to coordinate the Congress Swayamsevak Dal to make the 1920 Congress convention in Nagpur a success.

After the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya, the RSS headquarters came to be in the hit list of militants and the then police commissioner, U D Joshi, had provided strict security around the builiding on the demand of RSS functionaries.

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