Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat interacted with 70 journalists working at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The interaction was reportedly based on how the RSS functions today. Mohan Bhagwat had scheduled this meeting with journalists working in foreign firms to clear any misconceptions they may have about the organisation.

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'Engaging in constructive dialogue'

"This interaction was part of the continuous process where the 'Sarsanghchalak' (chief) engages in constructive dialogue with people from different walks of the society," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said in a statement. 

The interaction lasted for around two-and-a-half hours. It started with a brief introduction given by Bhagwat, followed by a question-and-answer session covering a wide range of issues across the spectrum, according to the statement. Around 80 journalists representing more than 50 organisations and hailing from 30 countries attended the interaction, it said. Sangh General Secretary Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi, Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya, Krishan Gopal, Sangh's northern region in charge, Bajran Lal Gupt, and its Delhi unit head, Kulbhushan Ahuja, were also present in the interaction program.

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Mohan Bhagwat had previously come under fire

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had previously come under fire for a statement he made on the National Register of Citizen’s (NRC) list in Assam wherein he said, "We won’t let any Hindu leave the nation." According to reports, the comment was made during an RSS - BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) meet in Kolkata and the same has been confirmed by BJP Bengal Chief Dilip Ghosh.

The comment made by RSS Chief Bhagwat has drawn sharp criticism from various members of the Opposition, with party members essentially saying that perhaps what the RSS is doing is trying to dictate the BJP and the BJP is essentially following the same. Which led to Communist Party of India’s  (CPIM) Brinda Karat lashing out at Bhagwat and the RSS and saying, “This is their play, they do not care about the citizenship, they simply want to divide the country.”

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(Inputs from PTI)