(in video: Opening remarks at the press conference by Shri Vaidya)

Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Addressing a press conference on the second day of RSS Gujarat region’s Karyakarta shibir, RSS pracharak Manmohan Vaidya said that the number of RSS shakhas has increased in recent years.

Sharing the figures, Shri Vaidya said, “compared to previous year, we have witnessed increase of 4,500 sakhas in year 2014. In Gujarat we have added 320 shakhas in 2014 compared to previous year.”

He further said, “Sangh website has ‘join RSS’ facility. In year 2012 each month we were receiving 1,000 requests to join RSS on website mainly from youths. In 2013 the number was up at 2,500 per month, while in year 2014 we receive per month 9,000 requests to join RSS.”

Sharing Gujarat specific figures he said, “we received 45 requests per month from Gujarat to join RSS, in 2013 this figure was 180 while in year 2014 it has been 490 per month.”

He added that the requests received to join RSS in person at Shakha venues are separate.

When asked whether BJP’s rise has any role to play in this, Shri Vaidya denied such logic. He said Kerala has witnessed highest increase in shakha numbers, but BJP is not in power there.

Speaking about ongoing Gujarat Shibir, Shri Vaidya said, “In total 14,558 karyakartas are attending this shibir. Only those karyakarta who are assigned some responsibility have been invited to this shibir. In 1985, about 5,000 swayam sevak attended such shibir in Gujarat. In year 2000, in another shibir held in Gujarat, 25,000 swayamsevaks were present from all over Gujarat, as that shibir was for all swayam sevaks. Now when figure of Shakhas and swayam sevaks has increased, we have this time called only those to shibir who have been assigned some responsibility.

When pointed out by media persons that RSS was expecting to have presence of over 25,000 karyakartas in this shibir, Shri Vaidya said, “yes it is true that 25,800 persons had registered to join the shibir, but due to one or another reason, all those who have registered can’t actually come to shibir. We have 60% presence here and we are satisfied with it.”

When asked about religious conversions, Shri Vaidya made it clear that Ghar Vapsi is not religious conversion. He said, RSS shakhas have presence of many Muslims and Christians, but RSS doesn’t convert them. Those who were Hindus but changed their faith, and later wished to come back to Hindu faith are welcomed, and it is Ghar Vapsi, it is not religious conversion. It creates law and order problems no where. It is legal too.

Narrating the details of spread of RSS in Gujarat he said, “we have 12 regions, 251 talukas and 257 nagars in Gujarat prant. Under talukas there are 2000 mandals. Each mandla has a bunch of 8-9 village. Then there’s shakha. We have three types of shakhas – daily, weekly and monthly shakha. Office bearers right from the Shakha level to Gujarat prant level are participating in this shibir.

Shri Vaidya, replying the questions asked by media persons

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