On Vijayadashami 1999, H. V. Seshadri gave the annual address at the gathering in Nagpur. This page summarises what was reported about it.
The day
- Date: 19 October 1999 — the calendar date of Vijayadashami; our sources do not record the exact day of the gathering
- Place: Nagpur
- Address by: H. V. Seshadri (the head of the organisation at the time was Prof. Rajendra Singh)
- Note: H. V. Seshadri, the general secretary, gave the address, according to Frontline
What the address covered
Frontline reported that RSS general secretary H.V. Seshadri addressed swayamsevaks at Vijayadasami in Nagpur. He congratulated the Vajpayee government on its electoral victory, which the magazine read as identifying the Sangh's interests with the coalition government. Ahead of Pope John Paul II's November visit, he said the Pope should reciprocate India's welcome by declaring all religions equal, noting that China and Sri Lanka had refused such visits over conversion fears.
As reported
Since India has welcomed his visit, the Pope should reciprocate the gesture by not only following state protocol but declaring all religions as equal
Context
Came weeks after the 1999 general election (held after the Kargil conflict), which returned the NDA to power.
How sure is this?
This account rests mainly on one source, listed below; details may be incomplete.
In the archive
Sources & copyright status
- V. Venkatesan, 'Targeting the Pope', Frontline Vol. 16 (Aug-Dec 1999 bound volume, Digital Library of India scan)
- Historical facts: not subject to copyright. Quotations are short extracts as reported in the sources cited; speeches are summarised in our own words.
- Commentary and translations on this page: original to The Hindu Book. © The Hindu Book, all rights reserved.
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