SOLAPUR, 12 November 2005 — The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is facing similar apathy and anger like the other fundamentalist Hindu Party Shiv Sena, with its chief being subjected to a humiliating ‘missile’ attack here.

RSS chief K.S. Sudharshan was presiding over a function after unveiling a statue of the Hindu warrior Shivaji where the incident occurred.

During the course of his speech he attacked the minorities for indulging in conversions and, urged the Hindus to be vigilant. “The Hindu religion is under severe attack from all sides. We have to defend the religion and show the world that Hinduism is the best religion in the world,” he said.

“Money, in millions, is flowing into the country to convert the Hindus.” The Hindu relgion, Sudharshan said was also being attacked by followers of Buddhism, adding that the attack was both physical as well as socially. It is necessary to defend the Hindu religion at any cost.

He also attacked Christianity and said that the Hindus were first converted to Buddhism and then forcefully converted to Christianity. This conversion business should stop and the Hindu religion protected, or else the Hindus will become a minority.

Sudharshan, who had antagonized members of the Buddhist religion, continued to attack the minorities when he was hit by a missile, in the form of a slipper, flung at him by Mahesh Chavan, a activist of Maratha Seva Sangh. The MSS activist had taken offense to the utterances and criticism of other religion by the RSS chief.

Chavan, who was then severely beaten up by the crowd, has been admitted to a hospital.

With the atmosphere turning tense, the police had to resort to cane charge a group that had begun pelting stones at the dais. The police later booked some people.

Hindu militant organizations like Maratha Seva Sangh, Sambaji Brigade, Vidrohi Cultural Movement and the Dalit political organization Republican Party of India had opposed the function were Sudharshan was invited by moving a local court for a stay order. But their plea was rejected.

Meanwhile in Pune, party workers belonging to the Republican Party of India (RPI) held demonstrations against Sudharshan and clashed with the police in Mangalwar Peth, a strong RSS bastion. The police blocked the protest in order to prevent the situation from turning ugly.