RSS link in hill meet

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 5: The GTA Sabha along with a New Delhi-based organisation, Nepali Sanskriti Parisad (International), has decided to organise a symposium on Nepali culture in Darjeeling, where Indres Kumar, central executive member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has been invited as the chief guest.

Sidharth Nath Singh, the BJP’s general secretary as well as the party’s minder for Bengal, will also be attending the symposium which will be held at the Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan in Darjeeling on January 16.

“The Nepali Sanskriti Parisad (International) is a Delhi-based organisation having its presence across the country. Indres Kumar, central executive member of the RSS, shall grace the occasion as the chief guest,” Binay Tamang, the executive GTA Sabha member in charge of information and cultural affairs department, said over the phone from Delhi.

The symposium is titled “Sanskritik Jhalak cum Swach Bharat Abhiyan – Sankalp Tatha Yogdan Conference”.

“The aim of the symposium is to preserve, protect and promote our culture and tradition in the context of the 21st century threats and perceptions and to promote Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Sidharth Nath Singh, S.S. Ahluwalia (Darjeeling MP), Sudhir Gupta (BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh) and Ashok Chaurasia (the international convenor of the Nepali Sanskriti Parisad) will also attend the event. We are expecting some Union ministers to be present at the programme but since their visit has not been finalised, we cannot comment further,” said Tamang.

He said members of the NSP had called on GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung during his visit to Delhi last month.

“Bimal Gurung has shown keen interest in preserving and promoting our culture and that is why the symposium is being held in Darjeeling,” said Tamang.

This is the first time that the GTA is conducting an event in which a central executive member of the RSS will participate.(Photo courtesy Akanchaya Bajracharya)