Mukherjee won't say anything which isn't in favour of the nation, says Virbhadra Singh

Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday said that Pranab Mukherjee's speech in Nagpur will be in favour of the nation.

"I'm sure that Pranab Mukherjee won't say anything in Nagpur which isn't in favour of the nation. In fact, whatever he says, will be in favour of country. I've no issues with him attending that event. He's free to go wherever he wants to," the senior Congress leader said.

The Congress clearly unhappy that Pranab Mukherjee is attending an RSS event at Nagpur today. Many senior Congress leaders have spoken out against his decision, including his daughter who said that the speech at Nagpur would be forgotten, but not the visuals.

The latest to join the bandwagon is Ahmed Patel, whose tweet signals what the mood in the Congress high command is. He tweeted, " I did not expect this from Pranab da."

Former Union Minister CK Jaffer Sharief urged former President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider his decision to visit RSS headquarters in Nagpur today.

While the Congress officially said it did not like to comment on the matter, former finance minister P Chidambaram said there was no point in debating the issue as he has already accepted the invitation.

But he advised Mukherjee, "I would say, Sir, now that you have accepted the invitation, please go there and tell them what is wrong with their ideology."

However, in a scathing letter, Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said his readiness to be the chief guest at the valedictory function of Sangh Shiksha Varg - a training camp for RSS volunteers in Nagpur on June 7 - came as a "rude shock" as it was organised by a "communal outfit" that has been "trying to divide the country on religious lines and to run the incumbent government by remote control.

However, Mukherjee in a veiled response, said that all queries will be answered once he speaks in Nagpur, where the event is scheduled to be held.

"Whatever I have to say, I will say in Nagpur. I have received several letters and phone calls but I haven't responded to anyone yet," Mukherjee was quoted as saying by Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika. Meanwhile, the RSS hailed the former President's greatness for accepting their invitation to address their workers in Nagpur.

"This isn't surprising for those who know and understand the Sangh, because RSS has always invited prominent people of the society in its programmes.

This time, we invited Dr Pranab Mukherjee and it's his greatness that he has accepted our invitation," read a statement from the RSS.