RSS dismisses reports on separate shakhas for women, terms them 'concocted' and 'baseless'

Soon after reports emerged that RSS will consider holding separate shakhas for its women cadre, the Sangh issued a clarification, saying shakha work among women is being conducted by Rashtra Sevika Samiti.RSS chief spokesperson (Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh) Manmohan Vaidya was quoted as saying by IANS, " Women are not in shakhas but they support Sangh. They try to create a conducive atmosphere in their family for the Sangh work. Shakhas... Sangh shakhas for women separately... we will consider." He was addressing the media on the eve of a three-day meeting of the RSS' Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal (ABKM).The RSS termed these reports "baseless" and said in all programmes and campaigns, women are also participating. "Women create an atmosphere of cooperating in families to support RSS."Vijay Thakar, media in-charge of the Gujarat unit of the RSS had also said, "there is a Rashtra Sevika Samiti, a parallel body of the RSS, and both are engaged in nation building since 1936 and wedded to the nationalist ideology.""The women members of the RSS have been helping directly or indirectly in achieving the goals. Women have always participated in RSS' activities," he added.