Sharmistha Mukherjee attacks BJP-RSS for distorting Pranab's picture at RSS event

Sharmistha took to Twitter to slam the BJP-RSS by retweeting a post in which Mukherjee's picture could be seen distorted.

Congress leader Ruchi Sharma shared a picture on Twitter where the former President could be seen wearing an RSS hat and standing in a posture, very unlikely to what was seen on Thursday.

Retweeting the post, Sharmistha said: "See, this is exactly what I was fearing & warned my father about. Not even few hours have passed, but BJP/RSS dirty tricks dept is at work in full swing!"

Sharmistha had earlier urged her father to skip the event fearing that his pictures will be misused.

She had tweeted, "Hope @CitiznMukherjee now realises from todays’ incident, how BJP dirty tricks dept operates. Even RSS wouldn’t believe that u r going 2 endorse its views in ur speech. But the speech will be forgotten, visuals will remain & those will be circulated with fake statements. 1/2."

".@CitiznMukherjee By going 2 Nagpur, u r giving BJP/RSS full handle 2 plant false stories, spread falls rumours as 2day & making it somewhat believable. And this is just d beginning! 2/2," she said.

Despite disapprovals and dismays by his former party Congress, Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday triggered a political firestorm by attending an event in Nagpur at the headquarters of the RSS, a right-wing Hindu voluntary organisation and ideological patron of the ruling BJP at the centre.

Mukherjee had invoked the spirit of nationalism and patriotism while calling for unity and plurality as the core ethos of India while delivering his speech.

Hailing the ancient legacy of India, Mukherjee said: "Intolerance dilutes the idea of nationalism" even as his presence at the RSS event is seen as a historic move that earned the right-wing Hindu organisation, considered a communal and untouchable force by the Congress, a legitimacy and respectability hitherto denied by India's "secular" leaders and political outfits."

Sharing the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he urged everyone to believe in "One India, One identity."

The former President said: "Pluralism and diversity are our strength. The soul of India lies in pluralism and tolerance," said Mukherjee addressing an annual training camp of the RSS meant for recruits in their third year in the right wing body."