Monday, September 21, 2009

RSS Clarifies on MoU with China

I thank Mr.Ram Madhav for clarifying the position of the RSS regarding the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China (Mr.Bhadrakumar alleged in the op-ed yesterday that the RSS had signed a MoU with China last year - see previous post). I also thank all our readers who responded to this post. I found no mention of this letter or any clarification to that effect in today's edition of The Hindu. So, for the sake of better clarity, I am posting his full letter here.

 Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh
__________________________________________________________________
RAM MADHAV DATE: 21 SEPT 2009
Member, National Executive


To

The Editor
The Hindu
Chennai


Dear Sir

Sub: Mr. Bhadrakumar’s article “Who stands to gain from war hysteria”

Mr. Bhadrakumar’s article with the above heading that has appeared on 21-09-09 in your esteemed daily makes the following comment:

“China concluded a memorandum of understanding with the RSS last year and senior RSS figures were hosted by Beijing”.

This statement is grossly incorrect and there was no memorandum of understanding or whatsoever between the RSS and China at any time. Except some NGO to NGO informal visits in which one RSS functionary participated, there were no visits of any RSS leaders which were hosted by ‘Beijing’, if the writer meant by that to be the Government of China.

I am sorry that Mr. Bhadrakumar, who was introduced as a former diplomat, had such incorrect information which he used without verifying in his article.

The RSS’ position on India-China relations, whether in the context of Arunachal Pradesh or Tibet, is well-known. We consider Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and hold His Holiness the Dalai Lama in highest esteem. We believe that any solution to Tibetan question is possible only with the complete concurrence of His Holiness and his people.

This position may not be to the liking of China loyalists, including the author of the article, but I would like to reiterate that there is no change in our position on that.


Sincerely


Ram Madhav

Keshav Kunj, Jhandewala, D.B. Gupta Marg, NEW DELHI – 110055
Ph: +91 (11) 23670365, 23538171 Fax: 23679914 Mob: +919910064466 E-mail: rammadhav@rssdelhi.com

8 comments:

Xinhua Ram said...

..China loyalists, including the author of the article...

good one :)

cbcnn_Pilid said...

Thanks :). Bhadrakumar also writes for the Asia Times but some of his articles there have a tone somewhat different from the ones in The Hindu. He does seem to share N.Ram's world view in many ways but his analyses exhibit more breadth than what you see in his Hindu articles alone.

Thyagarajan said...

It is an abysmal low for the Hindu to publish or allow their lead writers to state details that are unverified and worse not to even publish the rebuttal of the person (or organisation) against whom such calumny has been reported.

This is indeed new depths to which the paper has reached.

Gandaragolaka said...

cbcnn guys:

It is to your credit you identified a key situation, highlighted it in proper way, sent the message across to influential people, and obtained a proper response.

Please take a moment to accept my congratulations on actually making things happen through your unceasing service to the nation.

cbcnn_Pilid said...

Thyagarajan, you are right that the organization ought to have at least published an admission of its error.

Gandaragolaka, thanks for your kind words. On behalf of the blog, I welcome your encouragement.

Anonymous said...

It is said that an ambassador is sent to lie abroad for his country.
Apparently, Our Man in Kerala has decided to lie at home for another country.

Hindu Fundamentalist said...

it is appalling to see that bhadrakumar did not think it fit to rectify his blunder. especially when he goes on to make damning statements against rss based on a lie.
it is a real pity that we had guys like bhadrakumar as our diplomats. and definitely a new low for chindu.

Hindu Fundamentalist said...

all the comments in the original article so far have been approving of bhadrakumar.
http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article22850.ece#comments
this is not entirely surprising.

in the photo, narayanan is reaching out while dai binggou seems disinterested. doesnt quite send the right message if you are an indian. they sure must have posed one for the cameras. but chindu picked this one for the article. must have been a deliberate choice.