Kashmir expert Arun Kumar to be new pointsman between BJP and RSS

New Delhi: An experienced hand on Kashmir and the Sangh's national in-charge for media operations, Arun Kumar has been appointed as the new coordinator between the BJP and the Rashtriya  Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 

Kumar was Prant Pracharak in Jammu and Kashmir and was always a strong proponent for abrogation of Article 370.

The decision for the new appointment was taken at the Akhil Bharatiya Prat Pracharak Baithak – a key meeting of top leaders at Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh.

Mr Kumar would replace Krishna Gopal, who had been coordinating between RSS and BJP since October 2014.

In March this year, veteran Dattatreya Hosabale had replaced Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi as the organisation’s general secretary.and Shri Arun Kumar was made joint general secretary of the RSS.

This new change is only a routine exercise as the Sangh fountainhead keeps shifting its workers from one responsibility to another.

However, Shri Kumar's appointment is significant at this juncture as the BJP is gearing up full steam for elections in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat - besides five other states in 2022.

The Presidential elections also come in July 2022 and the next Lok Sabha polls are due in 2024 when coincidentally the Sangh fountainhead, RSS, will be also completing its 100 years.

The new appointment also comes when the central government has put the process of strengthening democracy and crushing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir on a faster track. 

The role of coordinator is certainly crucial as it has been seen in the past that leaders like Suresh Soni had played important roles in ensuring smooth functioning of the RSS and the BJP.

The naming of Narendra Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate on Sept 13, 2013 also took

place when Shri Soni was at the helm.

Ram Dutt Chakradhar, Dr Manmohan Vaidya and C R Mukunda are other joint general secretaries 

of the Sangh.

As many as 39,454 RSS Shakhas are at present operating across the country.

It has been announced that the RSS will organize nationwide “workers' training” to face the possible third wave of 

corona and these trained workers will reach about 2.5 lakh places.

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