RSS may invite Rahul Gandhi for event next month in Delhi

New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) is likely to extend an invitation to their critic Congress President Rahul Gandhi for an event next month, sources in the organisation said on Monday. 

The RSS event titled 'Future of Bharat' will be held in New Delhi and several other opposition leaders are expected to be present, reports stated. 

The idea is to invite people from different ideologies for the event, a source in the RSS said, adding that the list is being prepared and may also include CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

In a three-day lecture series from September 17-19, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will interact and present the Sangh's perspective on various issues of national importance.

In June this year, Congress veteran and former president Pranab Mukherjee attended an event at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on the Sangh's invitation, for which he was criticised by the party leaders.

The indication that Gandhi could be invited came on a day the RSS criticised him for drawing parallels between the Sangh and Islamic radical outfit Muslim Brotherhood. 

RSS spokesperson Arun Kumar hit out at Rahul Gandhi for likening the RSS to Muslim Brotherhood. He said the Congress chief cannot understand the saffron outfit as he does not know India.

Last week at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, Gandhi had said the RSS' idea is similar to that of Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab world. 

He had also alleged that the RSS was trying to "change" the nature of India and "capture" its institutions. 

"The entire world today is facing the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. He is unaware... he does not understand the gravity of the situation that's why he is making such statements," Kumar said while responding to a question on Gandhi's remarks about the RSS.