For the first time after becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is expected to attend a key Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh meet starting in New Delhi on Wednesday which is likely to brainstorm on a number of contentious issues including those confronting the government.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah besides a host of union ministers are also likely to attend the three-day 'samanway baithak' (coordination meeting) of the Hindutava organisation which will also discuss the increasing spread of the group.
RSS head Mohan Bhagwat will be present through the exercise in which issues like census figures and OROP are likely to come up for discussion.
The meeting has acquired extra significance as it comes against the backdrop of the government and ruling BJP involved in a bitter fight with the Opposition over the contentious land bill issue and Bihar polls.
Though the coordination meeting happens twice a year, this is likely to be for the first time that Modi will be attending the conclave after becoming the prime minister. The meet will have almost double the participation this time, RSS' chief spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said.
Asked if political issues will be discussed, he said all matters concerning the society will be taken up. However, he answered in negative when asked if crucial Bihar polls will also come up for discussion.
He said 93 main functionaries of the RSS and its 15 affiliates will "exchange notes" over relevant issues during the coordination meeting.
"This time the meeting is bigger. It is happening because lot many things are happening in our society and there will be wider inputs from everybody," he said, playing down reports that the Modi government's work would be reviewed but insisting that all kinds of inputs will be discussed.
"This meeting is not meant to review the government's work or take a decision. Nor will it be at the centre of our discussion. But yes we will get all kinds of inputs and discuss that," Vaidya said.
Asked if census figures will be discussed, he said it may happen and a discussion on the one-rank-one-pension issue, can also take place if inputs were made. The recent agitation of patidars (Patels) in Gujarat may also come up during the meet.
RSS affiliates such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP and Hindutva leaders such as BJP Member of Parliament Yogi Aditynath have expressed concern over the rise in the Muslims share of population and demanded the implementation of uniform civil code and population control measures.
He said RSS has seen a big growth in its work and it will be among the issues to be discussed. The number of people trained by the organisation for initiation into it functioning had risen this year to 1.15 lakh from 80,000 in the last year.
