'The BJP has more honest people'
New Delhi, March 19, 2001, 1900 hours IST: Mr Seshadri Chari, editor, Organiser, and a senior leader in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh answered difficult questions with aplomb.
Seshadri Chari : Good evening
everybody. I am here for the discussion.
govindacharya : Mr.Chari, do u think
there are no more honest people left in politics & power corrupts even the
hoest of the honest people?
Seshadri Chari : There could be a number of people who are
honest and are in politics. There is no question of honest people not being
there in any other party, other than the BJP too. We believe that the BJP has a
greater number of people who are honest.
govindacharya : r u convinced that power
corrupts even honest people?
Seshadri Chari : Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. It is said everyone is a gentleman unless proved otherwise. You can
not call a person honest if he is corrupt.
daft : Mr Chari, for a party that
calls Muslims betrayers, have you not betrayed R K Gupta by not helping him in
his hour of need? How can anyone trust you after this?
Seshadri Chari : I do not know if Shri RK Gupta needed any
help. He has himself clarified his position vis-a-vis the RSS. There for there
is no question of the RSS betraying anybody. And for the sake of record the RSS
has never called the Muslims "betrayors".
prahlad : mr. chari after the scandal
will the RSS exercise greater control over the BJP?
Seshadri Chari : The RSS has never controlled the BJP. There
are very elderly and statesmanly persons in the BJP who are competent to handle
the political affairs of the country. But I do agree with what the Prime
Minister and Shri Advani have said about this whole episode being a wake up
call.
govindacharya : this is afloowup
question to my previous question.going by an ageold maximum, it's circumstances
which make or mar a personality.so,even if few people are found corrupt in the
society, is it they who to be blamed or the society & people in general who
create these kind of circumstances?
Seshadri Chari : The RSS believes in the maxim of `man making
and nation building'. It is true that one cannot create a person who would not
be influenced by circustances at all. But it is expected that one should not
compromise with principles for the sake of convinience at any given
circustances.
raghavan : nameste jiwhat is our sangh
plan about this recent Telkha.com issue
Seshadri Chari : Sangh does not react to situations. The whole
episode of exposing corruption in defence related matters needs to be probed
thoroughly. We will be able to comment only after the probe is completed.
Meanwhile, it would have been prudent to have avioded such embarrassing
situations.
anoop : MR CHARI,KYA AAP NAHIN SOCHTE
KI IS PRAKARAN MEIN RSS KI CHHAVI DHOOMIL HUI HAI?
Seshadri Chari : There is no question of the image of RSS
being tarnished. The result of the enquiry into the whole episode is yet to
come.
Shivani : Mr Chari: Who is this Mr R K
Gupta? can you tell us?
Seshadri Chari : The sarkaryavaha of the RSS Shri Mohanrao
Bhagwat has already clarified that Shri RK Gupta is not an office bearer of the
RSS and he never was. The RSS is not a trust, hence the question of his being a
trustee does not arise. It is learnt that Shri RK Gupta has also clarified his
own position regarding the RSS. Anybody is welcome to the shakha of the RSS and
claim to be a swayamsevak.
K S Vas : How can Mr. Vajpayee govt
can provide moral leadership to the country
Seshadri Chari : Shri Vajpayee is a leader with high moral
qualities. He has a constructive and conciliatory approach to political issues.
A recent survey has concluded that the majority of the people still hold him in
high esteem and want him to lead the country.
Indian : Dear Mr Chari: I feel
demolished. I cannot belive Mr Bangaru Laxman accepting Rs 1 lakh. The BJP had
planned to introduce a system to accept party funds in cheques only. What has
happened to that?
Seshadri Chari : I am sorry that you are feeling this way.
Soon the dark clouds would clear and you will have a chance to cheer up. The
BJP had introduced a system of Aajeevan Sahayog Nidhi which was meant to
provide regular income for the party. But this does not mean that the party
cannot accept any donations. In this case, if Mr Bangaru Laxman has accepted donations
in good faith towards party fund I would not find it wrong. He should have
immediately handed over a receipt, or directed the donar to the party
treasurer.
prahlad1 : the RSS has traditionaly
believed in a clean central administration. but successive governments
including the present administration have been involved in scams. as a social
organisation, what will the RSS do to see that such scams do not take place in
future or even in the present government ever again?
Seshadri Chari : This government has by far, been able to give
a good scam-free administration. There are enough reasons to believe that the
administration will continue to be clean in the future. But remember that the
present government has inherited a corrupt system from earlier Congress
government. It would take some time to change this system. The process has
begun.
Jeet : Seshadriji: Will you agree with
the RSS ideologues that Bangaru Laxman is a failed student of RSS?
Seshadri Chari : As president of the party, Shri Laxman was
expected to follow and implement the principles and policies of the party. The
term "failed student" is only an anology. Anyway, even a failed
student gets ample opportunity to show his merit and come out with flying
colours.
Aditya : Are there any RSS affiliated
organisations in Singapore?
Seshadri Chari : There are no organizations in Singapore that
could be "affiliated" to the RSS. However, there are a number of
swayamsevaks carrying on various social and cultural activities. For further
information, you may contact me at chari@vsnl.com
saurabh : Mr seshadri, do u agree with
the government holding an inquiry, the way it is, trying only to delay
matters..?..What else is left to see?..shouldnt an FIR be lodged?and the guilty
be brought to book...and the government held solely accountable for the mess?
Seshadri Chari : There is no question fo lodging FIR. The
correct proceedure is to institute an inquiry either by the CBI or by a sitting
or retired Supreme Court judge. Unfortunately, the opposition is playing dirty
politics and holding up the Parliament which is the highest democratic body.
The BJP government is even ready for a total discussion on the matter on the
floor of the house. Probably, the opposition is afraid that in case of a
parliamentary discussion or a probe the truth may be out, which might go
contrary to what the opposition now claims to be true.
Deepak : Mr. chari i feel no
difference now between BJP and any other party. The party which has onceset its
standards.
Seshadri Chari : The BJP is still a party with a difference.
One allegation of a scandal which is yet to be probed cannot bring that party
on par with parties that are seeped in corruption and have been thrown out of
power.
swaymsevak : Sudarshanji said that the
christians and muslims have to break their ties with vatican and
meccarespectively. what would you feel if some organization inUS asks hindus
over there to break their ties with india ??
Seshadri Chari : Sudarshanji has clarified his appeal on this
subject in his speeches made over the last few months. The call for Indianizing
Islam and Christianity cannot be compared to a situation in the US.
Indianization of Islam and Christianity is a process which will prevent the
de-culturalization of Muslims and Christians in India. For further details
please refer to his interviews and speeches in Organiser at www.organiser.org
RAJGOPAL : chari ji shakha,s ar always
been the nucleus point of rss.but in recent past there is a big decline in
shakas....is RSS losing the ground
Seshadri Chari : The shakha of the RSS was and continues to be
the nucleus of the organization as you have said. The number of shakhas has
gone upto about 45,000. There is a periodical fall in this number depending on
factors like examinations etc. The number of pracharaks has also gone up. In
the recent "Jansamprak abhiyan", the swayamsevaks could visit nearly
60 per cent of the villages in the country. So there is nothing like losing
ground. But we always feel that there is scope to improve and increase our work.
Seshadri Chari : As I have to leave
for another appointment, I am sorry I am leavnig now. Hope to talk to very
soon.
| 
