RSS ideology and Netaji’s ideals poles apart: Subhas Chandra Bose’s Daughter

Workers clean the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ahead of his Jayanti, at Shyambazar in Kolkata on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

Amidst the fanfare over RSS' plans to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary in the city on January 23, his daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff has said that the organisation's ideology and the nationalist leader's ideas of secularism and inclusiveness are "poles apart and do not coincide".

She agreed that the fanfare over the celebration of her father's birth anniversary is to "partially serve their [BJP, RSS] own interests". As far as ideology is concerned, the Congress has a lot more in common with Netaji than any other party in the country, she said. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address a public programme at Shahid Minar ground in the city to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary.

"BJP and RSS do not reflect the idea of respecting all religions as preached by Netaji, who was a devout Hindu but believed in respecting other faiths. He was in favour of productive cooperation between members of different religions," Bose-Pfaff told PTI over phone from Germany where she lives, adding, "If you want to put a simple label, they are rightists and Netaji was a leftist."

Also Read: Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2023: All You Need to Know

"From what I hear about the RSS ideology, I would agree that it and Netaji's ideology are poles apart. The two value systems do not coincide," Bose-Pfaff said. When asked if Netaji was a critic of the RSS, she said, "I don't know any quote (of Netaji) which I can give you. He may have made critical statements about RSS members. I know what his (Netaji's) views are about RSS. The two value systems do not coincide. RSS and Netaji's ideology of secularism do not coincide with each other."

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever