'RSS men in BJP on the party's request' : Rajnath

Bhopal, Sep 23 (UNI) Denying the allegation that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was interfering in the affairs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), party President Rajnath Singh today said it welcomed ''the RSS wholetimers to man the organisational positions.'' Talking to newspersons, Mr Singh asserted that the BJP was never guided by the RSS in the past, present or future. However, he added that there was a need for experienced wholetimers to fit into the posts of organisational secretaries.

''They have been sent to the party on my request and have not come on their own nor have been imposed on the party,'' Mr Singh said.

When asked whether the party had workers to occupy these posts, Mr Singh said there were many BJP wholetimers in these posts in several state units.

Replying to queries about 'crucial absentees' at the Executive, Mr Singh said, ''Many had obtained party's permission to stay back at their places.'' UNI MCN MS KN1740