Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Referring to the recent violent civil unrest in India's neighbourhood, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his annual Vijayadashmi address on Thursday, sounded a note of caution on discontent caused by "disconnect between government and society and lack of able and people-oriented administrators."
“In recent years, there has been considerable turmoil in our neighbouring countries. The regime change in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and more recently Nepal due to violent outbursts of public anger is a concern for us," Bhagwat said, addressing the cadre in Nagpur, with top Sangh leadership in attendance to mark the organisation's centenary foundation day.
Society, Bhgwat noted, can achieve transformation through a democratic process and not violent outbursts. Though he hastened to add that "the forces wanting to create such disturbances in India are active inside as well as outside our country.”
“These neighbouring countries are linked with India on the basis of both culture and long-standing ties between citizens. In one way, they are part of our own family. Peace, stability, prosperity, and ensuring comfort and well-being in these countries is a necessity arising out of our natural affinity with these countries, going beyond the consideration for protection of our interests,” the RSS chief said.
The annual Vijayadashmi speech by the RSS chief delivered from the Reshimbagh grounds abutting the saffron outfit's headquarters in the Orange City, is considered a policy statement of the Sangh, the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, on contemporaneous issues.
Besides, he also linked the violence incidents to “grammar of anarchy” that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar spoke of.
Prepare comprehensive plan in once Naxal areas
Asserting that the Naxalist movement has been largely brought under control due to the firm actions of the government and the realisation among people, the RSS chief said that there should be a comprehensive plan for the areas once under Maoist influence. “The root of Naxalites’ popularity in these areas lay in exploitation and injustice, lack of development, and absence of sensitivity about these matters in the administration. Now that these obstacles have been removed, a comprehensive action plan is required to ensure justice, development, goodwill, empathy, and harmony in these regions,” said Dr Bhagwat.
‘Pahalgam and Ops Sindoor tested our friends’
On the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, he said during this entire period, the country witnessed heartening scenes of the firmness of the country’s leadership, the valour and war-readiness of our armed forces, as well as the determination and unity of our society. “However, at the same time, it has become evident to us that, while maintaining a policy and spirit of friendship with everyone, we must remain as vigilant as possible and further develop our security capabilities. The policy responses of other countries around the world to this entire episode, who our friends are in the global arena and to what extent they are willing to stand by us was also tested,” he said.
‘Climate change is concerning’
On climate change, he said harmful consequences of the materialist and consumerist development model adopted worldwide, based on a materialist and compartmentalized approach, are increasingly becoming evident everywhere. “In India too, due to the same model, irregular and unpredictable rainfall, landslides, drying up of glaciers, and other similar effects have intensified over the last 3-4 years. The entire water supply of Southwest Asia originates in the Himalayas. The occurrence of these disasters in the Himalayas should be considered as a warning bell for India and other countries of South Asia,” he added.
Hindu society unites: Bhagwat
Dr Bhagwat said Hindu society guarantees national unity, oneness and development. “The Hindu society is accountable for Bharat. It is an inclusive society. It is free of and will remain free from a mentality ‘us and them’ which creates divisions on the basis of superficial differences of many names and forms. The Hindu society is upholder and guardian of the noble idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’,” he said.
No substitute for Swadeshi, Swavalamban: RSS chief
While expressing satisfaction over the improving economic situation in the country, Bhagwat also underscored the "flaws in the prevailing economic system."
"The widening gap between rich and poor, the concentration of economic power, the strengthening of new mechanisms that enable easier exploitation by exploiters, degradation of the environment, and the rise of transactionalism and inhumanity instead of genuine interpersonal relationships, are globally exposed," Bhagwat warned.
Calling for reconsideration of India's approach on some issues so that the US tariff policy, based "solely on its self-interest, does not pose a challenge for us."
"By becoming Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) and being cognizant of global unity, we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us," he added.