RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrives in Varanasi; Congress protests
What's the story
To entice more people to join the RSS, supremo Mohan Bhagwat has begun a five-day tour of PM Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi.
He just concluded a 10-day trip to Bihar, where he reviewed the Sangh's working and shakhas. He also sparked a controversy when he compared Army's and RSS' war preparedness.
In Varanasi, he will interact with swayamsevaks.
Here's more about it.
Itinerary
What will Bhagwat do in Varanasi?
In Varanasi, Bhagwat was escorted to the Deen Dayal handicrafts trade facilitation centre in Bada Lalpur, where he discussed RSS ideology with mostly new members.
He also discussed ways to take the ideology forward in spheres of societal life.
On February 18, Bhagwat will address over 1,300 representatives of the various wings affiliated with the RSS at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University during its "Sangh-Samagam."
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But, why is the Congress protesting?
Meanwhile, the Congress staged a protest against the RSS chief alleging that the saffron organization was misusing government institutions like the Trade Facilitation Centre and the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University for propaganda.
Significance
What is the significance of Bhagwat's visit?
Though Bhagwat holds district-level organizational meetings every year, this year, the programmes are going to be especially grand.
Senior RSS leaders, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, BJP President Amit Shah and BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey will also attend the sessions.
Considering its religious and political significance, Varanasi is strategically important for BJP. Further, Bhagwat is seemingly building BJP's arsenal for 2019 LS elections.