RSS cannot touch SP: Mulayam

Babatpur, Varanasi, Nov 16 (UNI) Terming the RSS approval to its rank and file for joining non-BJP parties a gimmick, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today clarified that none of the Swayamsevaks could ever touch the Samajwadi Party.

Interacting with mediapersons here, the SP supremo said RSS' approval to its Swayamsevaks to join non-BJP parties was nothing but a ''gimmick'' and will have no bearing on the party.

''The RSS is an outfit which has no programme for any section of the society and hence this latest call is not going to impact the country's political system, especially the SP,'' he maintained.

''Wo SP ko chhoo nahi sakte (the RSS Swayamsewaks cannot touch the SP or sneak into the party fold),'' he added.

A senior RSS functionary Madan Das Devi had recently said the Sangh had no objection to its Swayamsevaks joining non-BJP parties to reform them.

When queried about his stand on the announcement by Shankaracharya of Jyotish-Shardapith Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati to lead Hindu seers for a parikrama of the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on November 30, the Chief Minister said the seer has talked to him on that count.

''The Shankaracharya is not performing the Parikrama to revive the BJP-VHP cause, but is against the saffron brigade. The state government will ensure that law and order is maintained despite the parikrama,'' he added.

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