Rajnath Singh says he discussed politics but asserts no diktats from Mohan Bhagwat

Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | Jul 7, 2013, 03.14 AM IST

NAGPUR: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Saturday spent over three hours in parleys with RSS boss Mohan Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi discussing party strategy ahead of the next general election. "I head a political party and of course I discussed political matters with the Sangh chief," said Rajnath outside the Sangh headquarters at Mahal.
But he said RSS wasn't the one calling the shots in the BJP. "It will be wrong to say that the RSS passes on directives to the BJP. I was not here to receive diktats. The RSS and BJP are always engaged in a consultation process. I had few things to discuss with the RSS and sought time and as per the agreed schedule was here for it," he said.
It was clear that the BJP is now getting ready to counter the proposed food security law that the UPA government views as a game-changer ahead of the 2014 elections. The RSS bosses met senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday, LK Advani on Friday and now Rajnath and the focus of the discussion was generally how to take on the food security bill.
Though it could not be confirmed, Gujarat CM and BJP's PM candidate, Narendra Modi, too is expected to visit Nagpur soon.
Rajnath said the food security ordinance had provided BJP fodder for an attack. "What was the hurry for the Congress to pass an ordinance to implement the food security with only few months left for elections. In 2004, the Congress had promised it would introduce the Bill within 100 days of coming to power. But all these years it did nothing," said Rajnath.
From Mahal, Rajnath went to Rajya Sabha member Ajay Sancheti's Dharampeth residence where he had lunch and also met party MLAs and local functionaries. Later he visited a local Marathi daily's office and also called on senior ideologue MG Vaidya at his residence before leaving for Kolkata by a special flight.