Describing the move of the writers, scientists, Bollywood artistes and others to return their awards as "pseudo-secular and intolerant", RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosbale on Friday dubbed their act as a "premeditated conspiracy" with an aim to "take the debate to other side".
"Linking whatever untoward happening, somehow, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS is not tolerance, but a conspiracy," said Hosbale.
"The people, who have crossed the limits of intolerance, are today talking about tolerance, which we condemn," he added.
Slamming the demands for banning the RSS, he said: "The Sangh is accepted by the people. Liberals, pseudo-secular and intolerant people want to make the RSS a punching bag in the name of intolerance because they are losing their ground and are frustrated."
"If they want a debate, we are ready for it. But they must practice tolerance; the Sangh has practised it for over 90 years," he added.
