New RSS No. 2 vows to back laws against love jihad

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 20

Marking a major shift in the power structure of the RSS, Dattatreya Hosabale was today unanimously elected the new Sarkaryavah of the BJP’s ideological fountainhead at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in Bengaluru. He takes over from Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, who has been holding the important position for almost 12 years now. In his first interaction with the media, the newly elected Sarkaryavah said the Sangh would support laws against ‘love jihad’.

Stating that the issue had nothing to do with religion, he was quoted as saying that “fraudulent methods used to lure girls for marriage, conversion, any kind of misuse or taking them to other countries had to be condemned and opposed”. He also distanced the RSS from the controversial statement of Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat on women wearing ripped jeans. “He (Rawat) is capable of answering,” he said.

Under Hosabale’s tenure as Sarkaryavah, the RSS will focus on its expansion plan. The Sangh is preparing for its centenary celebrations in 2025. While Sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) is the philosopher and guide of the organisation, Sarkaryavah is the second most important position as in-charge of its day-to-day activities. Called ‘Datta’ by his fraternity, Hosabale is considered close to the PM. Born on December 1, 1955, in Shimoga district of Karnataka, he joined the RSS at the age of 13 in 1968.