RSS writes to PM for panel to probe efforts to ''malign'' image

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Making it clear that Malegaonblast accused Colonel Srikant Purohit has no links with it,RSS has asked the Prime Minister to set up an independentcommission to probe an alleged plot to assassinate its chiefMohan Bhagwat by the former military intelligence officer andefforts to "malign" the image of the Sangh.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, SanghSarkaryavah (general secretary) Suresh Joshi ''Bhayyaji'' saidthe Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad has evidence to provethat Malegaon blast accused Col Purohit and Swami DayanandPandey were simultaneously plotting to eliminate Bhagwat andsenior RSS leader Indresh Kumar.

"At the time of Malegaon investigations itself a seniorATS official had informed one of our prominent leaders aboutthis conspiracy...yet, shockingly, some elements in theinvestigative agencies have been trying to club the RSS withthose very same people who were plotting against it," theletter dated February 9 said.

Copies of the letter addressed to Singh were madeavailable to the media at a press conference here by RSS.

The four-page letter delivered to the PMO yesterdaystated that the fundamental question which needed to addressedwas, "How could RSS be bracketed with those who were viciouslyhostile to it and conspiring to kill its leaders?"

"We will help any probe to get to the truth...anindependent commission should be set up as we see a politicalhand behind them (Purohit and Pandey) to malign the image ofRSS.

"The way a Congress general secretary (apparentlyreferring to Digvijay Singh) is speaking against RSS, thetruth needs to be ascertained," said Sangh leader ManmohanVaidya, replying to a question on the kind of probe RSS wasdemanding at a time when the case was already being lookedinto by various agencies.

Vaidya claimed that Purohit was never part of the RSSthough he "tried to get close to RSS and tried to create feudwithin the organisation...he dubbed Indresh Kumar as an ISIagent."

RSS hoped to get a reply from the Prime Minister in thecoming days even as ''Bhaiyyaji'' has sought a meeting withSingh to discuss the issue in person. .