RSS leader for probe to find ‘real culprits' of Malegaon blast
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Nagpur: Now, as all the accused in
Malegaon blast
have been acquitted, it is on the govt's probe agencies to investigate the truth and find out the real perpetrators, said national executive member of RSS, Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi, on Sunday.
Joshi, former Sarkaryavaha (genereal secretary) of RSS, spoke with TOI on the sidelines of a function organised by Dharampeth Education Society. "It's a fact that the blast took place. So, an investigation has to take place to know who did it."
Replying to a question, he confirmed that the acquitted persons were framed as part of a conspiracy. "Such conspiracies are not new, but it was finally proven by the court's verdict acquitting the accused," he said.
While refusing to comment on recent allegations of accused being forced to name RSS leaders in the blast, Joshi said those who have made the statements may be speaking out of experience.
The Society held a function to confer awards on Vansavi Seva Samiti and Kasturi Sanstha. The former, which is active in the Jamod Tehsil of Buldhana district, received the award for preventing religious conversions and bringing back tribals to the Hindu faith apart from other work.
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Joshi said conversion is a deep-rooted problem in the country. "However, the RSS welcomes the recent proposal by the Kerala Council of Churches which has stood against forcible conversion. It is indeed encouraging to find some Christian bodies rising against conversion. The Sangh has been working on Ghar Wapsi to bring people back to their original faith. The efforts on preventing conversion are going well too," he said.
Joshi said that neglect by a segment of society is also a driving force towards a change of faith, apart from poverty and lack of education.
Earlier, a member of the Dharampeth Education Society, Kumarmukund Shastri, lauded the work by Vansavi Seva Samiti. Ganesh Nathani of the Seva Samiti said widespread conversions were happening among the tribals in the Jamod area for the last 40 years. "With Samiti's efforts, as many as 95% of the persons have come back to the Hindu faith," he said. "They were lured by offering healthcare and other help. However, another group silently worked on changing the tribals' food habits by even making them habitual to eating beef," Nathani told TOI.
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