... As veteran JD(S) leader Madhu Dandavate pointed out, the RSS primarily discusses politics at its annual chintan baithak (deliberations meeting) in Nagpur. It is not only privy to but guides the National Democratic Front (NDA) government led by an RSS member, Vajpayee, in every action of the government ...

Certain posts in the BJP are reserved exclusively for leaders with an RSS background. These include the president of the BJP and its organising secretary. The last organising secretary of the BJP was Kushabhau Thakre, the current party president ...

Despite all these apparent connections between the two, BJP leaders persist that since the RSS -does not contest elections it is only a socio-cultural organisation. By this yardstick, a host of Naxalite outfits and the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Ealam of Sri Lanka or the Irish Republican Army should also pass as socio-cultural organisations. (Source: The Meantime, 1 March, 2000)