Bid to invite Muslim youths aboard RSS

Times of India 

LUCKNOW: The Sangh Parivar believes in catching them young. The proposed Awadh Prant Sankalp Shivir - a three-day indoctrination camp to be held in September, 2011 - would target college students in Lucknow and surrounding 12 districts. The preparations for the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) camp start today.   

Ostensibly, the idea is to "tap and harness the positive energy of youth" but, given the presence of RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, the camp is being widely perceived as a recruitment drive, with a dramatic twist. The Sangh think tank has this time resolved to break the community barrier and reach out to the Muslim youths as well.   

Talent hunt for the camp will not be confined to Hindu-dominated institutions alone, Umesh Kumar, pracharak, Lucknow section told TOI. The universities and colleges on the radar will also include minority institutions like Shia Degree College and Nadwa University in Lucknow, among others. To avoid tokenism, members of the Rashtriya Muslim Manch (a minority support group of the Sangh here) will consciously be kept out. The team, Kumar emphasized, would comprise the RSS cadre only as participation of the Muslim Manch may give a political colour to the camp.

Kumar is preparing to dispatch teams to neighbouring districts of Unnao Barabanki, Lakhimpur, Gonda, Faizabad, Shravasti, Rae Bareli, Hardoi, Sitapur, Bahraich, Balrampur and Lalganj. He is positive that the Sangh Parivar would be "richer by at least 2,500 fresh faces" by the end of the event.   

As for the choice of candidates, there are eligibility criteria to be strictly observed. Entry will be restricted to those who have attended at least one 'shakha' so far, own a pair of khaki shorts and come with their own bedding and are willing to pay Rs 100 fee, Kumar declared. "We will in turn provide them with accommodation and meals," he added.

Agenda for the camp? Games, cultural programmes, GK quiz and tests and inspirational lectures by special invitees, enlisted Kumar. "The invitees include names like cricketer, Navjot Singh Siddhu and shooter Jaspal Rana. Among scientists, we hope to have former president Kalam and if for some reason he can't make it, another option would be noted microbiologist, Dr Lalji Singh. The meeting held last month has also zeroed in on names among litterateurs and musicians," Kumar said. Incidentally, the guest faculty will be an all-male affair. 

There have been last-minute changes too. Before the Ramdev controversy broke out, the Yoga guru was one of the invitees and letters were drafted to call Anna Hazare also, sources claimed. However, in the backdrop of Ramlila Ground incident and its aftermath, these names were struck off.