'RSS not averse to reservation for minorities'

Lucknow, Mar 11 (UNI) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today said it was not averse to reservations for minorities, provided it was not used a political tool to win votes.

RSS Sarkaryavaha Mohanrao Bhagwat said here that the organisation was not against Muslims or Christians. ''We have same ancestors...their ways to pray may differ but they also know our ansectors were the same years ago,'' he added.

The RSS Sarkaryavaha said if reservation was provided to them for their social and economic upliftment, the RSS had no problems. But at the same time reaservation should not be used as a toll to garner votes ahead of elections, he added.

He said in India, the problem was not with Muslims or Chiristians but with Hindus themselves. ''Hindus have to understand to present themselves in such a way that minorities remember that at one time we had the same ancestors,'' he added.

To a poser on the role of RSS in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, he said the body had nothing to do with elections. ''Our democracy is now 60 years old and elections are a routine exercise...we do not issue directives to the swayamsevaks on elections and they are free to cast their ballot for anyone who believes in non-violence and respects the Indian state,'' he added.

Mr Bhagwat also denied the BJP had sought any assistance from RSS for the assembly elections beginning in April, 2007. ''The date and venue of this meet were decided last year and it is just a co-incidence that it is being held ahead of assembly elections in the state.'' To a poser on the relations of BJP with RSS, he said the former was not a political face of the latter. ''RSS has its own face,'' he added.

Mr Bhagwat was talking to reporters on the last day of a three-day meet of Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha which began here yesterday morning. It was attended by 1,000 workers and 300 representatives of 42 organisations affiliated to RSS.

UNI