KOLKATA: The number of requests for joining right wing RSS hiked to more than 4 times the day former President Pranab Mukherjee gave his address to the graduating swayamsevaks in Nagpur on June 7

 According to TOI RSS has sent a letter to former president Mukherjee, expressing gratitude for his visit and the address regardless “opposition from his own people”.

The thanking letter from Sangh saha sarkaryavah Manmohan Vaidya admired Mukherjee’s view about “one India” and “Indian culture”. It was delivered to the former president’s home on Monday.

Vaidya, who talked to RSS karyakartas in Bengal previous to he sent the letter, wrote that the programme was broadcasted across the country after some people opposed Mukherjee’s visit.

 “On an average, we had 378 applications per day between June 1-6 on the Sangh’s website. But on June 7, the number shot up to 1,779 and the largest chunk was from Bengal,” said an RSS member from Bengal as quoted by TOI.

Not just senior Congress leadrs, Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha, too, criticized his visit to the event at the RSS headquarters. “The speech will be forgotten, visuals will remain and those will be circulated with fake statements,” Sharmistha had tweeted.

However,  Sharmistha, turned down to comment anything on the RSS thanking letter to her father on Monday.

Vaidya wrote that Pranab Mukherjee stood up and introduced himself, adding “His simplicity touched everyone.”

 All through in the letter, Vaidya addressed Mukherjee as ‘Pranabbabu’. He further wrote that the outlook of Mukherjee and Mohan Bhagwat is alike. Mentioning the surge in people’s interest in joining the Sangh he concluded.