Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, is set to deliver the valedictory address at the function of Third Year Sangha Shiksha Varga (SSV) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Nagpur. The RSS had formally extended an invitation to Mukherjee which the former Congress stalwart chose to accept.
“Mukherjee always had cordial relations with the RSS. During his meeting with Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat at Rashtrapati Bhavan last year he had expressed a desire to have a close look at the RSS work after stepping down as President. Accordingly, an invitation was sent to him and he has accepted it,” Pramod Bapat, Kshetriya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS told the New Indian Express. “Being an apolitical organization the RSS always strives to invite prominent people from all walks of life on such occasions. Politics is a part of social life and hence politicians are invited to such functions occasionally. In that sense nobody is ‘untouchable’ to the RSS,” he added.
The chief of RSS, Mohan Bhagwat, and Pranab Mukherjee are known to share a cordial relationship. During his Presidential tenure, Bhagwat visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan on several occasions. In June last year, Mukherjee even hosted the Bhagwat for lunch. In the past, they have been known to exchange Diwali greetings and share opinions on the state of the nation.