RSS Turns Down Bodu Bala Sena's Request For A Tie-up

An Indian Hindu nationalist group has stated that it has no intention of forming an alliance with a hardline Buddhist group in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Buddhist organization Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) on Tuesday said it was in “high-level” talks with India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group linked to India's ruling party.

Both groups are viewed as hostile toward minority Muslims in their respective countries.

But RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav told ucanews.com news service on Wednesday that he has "no knowledge of any such" initiative to form a partnership with Sri Lanka’s BBS.

"It seems to be a mischievous statement," he said, adding that in general the RSS does not enter into any international partnerships.

Bodu Bala Sena, two days ago, stated that it was aiming at setting up a “Buddhist-Hindu Peace Zone in South and Southeast Asia” with the help of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), an organisation with which India’s ruling party BJP is closely associated.

India's Present Prime Minister Narendra Modi too started his political career as an activist of RSS.

BBS General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero told the same news service on Wednesday that in addition to its negotiations with the RSS, it was also in talks with Buddhist and civil society groups in India “to form an alliance to have a Buddhist-Hindu Peace Zone in Asia”.