Pranab Mukherjee's speech in RSS meet

Nagpur, June 05: All political leaders are eagerly waiting for former President Pranab Mukherjee's speech at the passing out ceremony of RSS students in Nagpur on June 7 is a matter of keen interest for politicos and observers alike.

Traditionally, speeches of the chief guest and others during the function are a closed-door affair like most of the RSS programmes, except for the Dussehra address by the sarsangchalak.

All eyes are on what the former president is going to say in Nagpur. While the Congress is sharply divided on his decision, regional satraps have maintained a studied silence. Mukherjee is moving closely with Mamata Bannerjee and, if those in the know are to be believed, they will back each other at the appropriate moment.

He is expected to strike notes in Nagpur that will endear him to regional parties not allied with the BJP – about secularism, plurality, constitutionalism, giving minorities a sense of confidence, all-embracing nationalism, and the need for tolerance and dissent. But he will do this in a way that does not offend his host, the RSS.

BJP and RSS functionaries are of the view that an exception should be made for Pranab da.

Whatever RSS decides, chances are that a copy of his speech will be made public.