Press Release

Battini Rao, Convenor,
People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses its concern over the two FIRS being filed in Odisha (Kandhmal and Katak) against Shri Kumar Prashant, president of Gandhi Peace Foundation, allegedly for hurting sentiments of local RSS members, spreading lies about RSS and instigating people against the actions taken by the Union Government in Kashmir.

Instead of proving Kumar Prashant wrong by publishing or speaking their refutation of his views, the RSS have taken recourse to court. The role of RSS, Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League during our India’s independence movement is well documented and is still being debated. Historical controversies cannot be resolved or put to rest in courts of law. They are academic and political matters. The RSS leadership must be well aware of this fact but it has chosen to take recourse to intimidation and threats to suppress a democratically expressed opinion by Kumar Prashant.

This is nothing other than an attempt to police public opinion by threats. It is an example of the totalitarian habit of mind of the RSS.

On this matter we are in solidarity with Kumar Prashant. We have trust in our judiciary and are confident that the Kandhmal and Katak courts will do justice to the veteran Gandhian. We also expect of the Naveen Patnaik government that it would intervene and prevent the Odisha Police from taking any unlawful action against him.