Communist Party of China delegation meets RSS leadership in Delhi a day after talks with BJP
New Delhi: A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday met senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) at its headquarters, Keshav Kunj, in Delhi, a day after holding talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in the Capital.
Describing the meeting as a “courtesy call”, a senior RSS functionary said the request for the interaction had come from the Chinese side and that there was no specific agenda. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not present at the meeting as he was travelling, the functionary added, The Indian Express reported.
The interaction is significant in the context of the limited engagement between the RSS and Chinese representatives in recent years. During Bhagwat’s lecture series in August last year, the RSS had avoided inviting Chinese diplomats, even as representatives from several other countries attended. At the time, the decision was linked to Operation Sindoor, following which neither Pakistan nor China was invited.
The CPC delegation’s meeting with the RSS followed its interaction with the BJP leadership on Monday, where discussions focused on advancing inter-party communication between the two political organisations. According to party sources, BJP leaders with a significant interface with the RSS were also part of Monday’s discussions.
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The Indian Express reported quoting sources that this was likely the first such engagement between the BJP and the CPC since the BJP came to power in 2014. The last similar interaction reportedly took place in 2009, when the BJP was led by its then president, Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari had also visited China in 2011 as part of an engagement with the CPC, according to insiders.
BJP leaders publicly confirmed Monday’s meeting through posts on social media. BJP foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said a CPC delegation led by Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC, visited the BJP headquarters, where discussions were held on advancing inter-party communication. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong was also part of the delegation.
BJP national secretary Arun Singh, who led the BJP delegation, said the meeting focused on enhancing communication and interaction between the BJP and the CPC.
The outreach comes even as the BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress over its past engagements with the CPC, citing meetings and memoranda of understanding between the two parties.
While both the BJP and the RSS have described the current engagements as limited and exploratory, the CPC delegation’s meetings with the ruling party and its ideological parent organisation indicate an effort to broaden political channels of communication amid an otherwise strained India-China relationship.
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Surprise maiden India call-up for Ayush Badoni after injury to Washington Sundar
New Delhi (PTI): Uncapped Ayush Badoni on Monday replaced Washington Sundar in India's squad for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand after the all-rounder was ruled out due to a rib injury.
Washington suffered the injury in the series-opener in Vadodara on Sunday.
The 26-year-old, who bowled five overs for 27 runs, walked off midway through the New Zealand innings and did not return to field. Despite the discomfort, he later came out to bat at No. 8 as India picked up a four-wicket win.
"India all-rounder Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Sunday," said the BCCI in a statement.
"He will undergo further scans, following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion. Washington has been ruled out of the remaining two matches.
"The Men's Selection Committee has named Ayush Badoni as his replacement. Badoni will link up with the squad in Rajkot (the game is on Wednesday), the venue for the second ODI," it added.
Badoni being named in the national squad means that he will miss Delhi's quarterfinal against Vidarbha in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Badoni, primarily a batter who bowls off-spin, has captained Delhi and was deputy to Rishabh Pant in the team's latest Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.
The 26-year-old rose to prominence with his performances for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League where he played under the mentorship of current India head coach Gautam Gambhir.
While Badoni has a batting average of 57.96 in first-class cricket, his List A returns are not that impressive.
He averages 36.47 in 27 games and has done more with the ball than bat in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Delhi head coach Sarandeep Singh spoke about the work Badoni has put on his off-spin over the last year or so.
"He bowls at least 30 balls in every practice session after batting in the nets. He realises that he needs to improve his off-spin to make a strong case as an all-rounder who can fit into the Indian team," Sarandeep said.
"He has improved as a bowler considerably over the last 12 months. He is getting wickets for us regularly, he is a very smart cricketer and learns quickly.
"His off-spin turns sharply and he has a good carrom ball and arm ball as well," the former India spinner told PTI.
Washington is the third Indian player to pick up an injury in the ongoing series.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out after suffering a side strain last week while Tilak Varma is unavailable for the first three T20Is against New Zealand due to a groin injury which required surgery.
