RSS says Mohan Bhagwat's Indian Army comments being contorted after Rahul demands apology; Youth Congress plans protest

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday clarified over Mohan Bhagwat's statement claiming that the Hindutva outfit can prepare an army within three days. In a statement issued by ideologue Manmohan Vaidya, the RSS claimed that Bhagwat's words had been "misrepresented" by the media.

In its clarification, the RSS said that while the Indian Army takes about six months to prepare the society in the event of a war, Swayamsevaks can be trained in just three days as they practice discipline daily. The statement said that Bhagwat did not compare the RSS with the Indian Army, claiming that he instead was comparing the "general society" with the Swayamsevaks.

While speaking at a zilla school ground on the last day of his six-day visit of Muzaffarpur, Bhagwat on Sunday had said the organisation has the ability to prepare an "army" to fight for the country within three days, if such a situation arises.

"Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so," Bhagwat said. Sangh is neither a military nor a para military organisation, rather it is like a "parivarik sangathan" (family organisation) where discipline is practised like the army, he said adding that workers are always happily ready to make supreme sacrifice for their country.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kirren Rijiju came to the support of Bhagwat. In his tweets, Rijiju reiterated what the RSS had clarified and turned the tables on the Congress, claiming that it wanted to divide the army on religious lines in the past.

The RSS clarification came just hours after Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted on the issue and sought RSS' apology for insulting the Indian Army. Moreover, Youth Congress will be launching a protest in front of the RSS office in New Delhi.

With inputs from PTI