DNA EXCLUSIVE: On Feb 25, Meerut to host biggest-ever RSS meet

In a communally volatile western UP, singed recently by Hindu-Muslim riots in Kasganj, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will be holding its biggest-ever congregation of volunteers in Meerut on February 25.

The gathering will be presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, while Hindu spiritual guru Avadheshanand Giri will chair the meet. In a show of strength and reach among masses, over three lakh swayamsevaks will be showcasing martial arts in complete ‘ganavesh’ or the Sangh’s regulation uniform in a ground sprawled over 650 acres.

Another measurement that provides a sense of scale of the event is that over 600 acres of land has been earmarked for parking of vehicles as over 5,000 buses are expected.

Incidentally, this congregation kills a lot many birds for the RSS with the proverbial one stone. Over two lakh participating volunteers who have already registered are below 40 years of age, thus lending this gathering a rather youthful profile which would, said Sangh functionaries, add to the idea of show of strength.

“This will be the biggest gathering of RSS volunteers ever in history. It will surpass the last one in Pune in January last year where 1.5 lakh volunteers attended,” said Ajay Mittal, head of publicity for …read more