In his politically significant Dussehra rally address, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday heaped praise on the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government for its initiatives in just four months. He also exhorted the people to stop buying the Chinese goods so as to give strength to the new dispensation at the Centre to pursue its self-reliance policy vigorously.
In his 65-minute-long customary Dussehra rally address delivered at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, Bhagwat said: “The people have brought about the change in Government after considerable thought. It is good development for us. The Government has not even completed six months in office. But, we are already optimistic about the signals from the current Government with its initiatives on the international relations’ front, national security and other areas. These initiatives spark hope, confidence and happiness.”
“For instance, recently we had severe-most floods in Jammu & Kashmir after a gap of 60 years. Several people lost their lives and there was huge loss of property. We have expressed condolence for the people killed in the natural calamity and we also share their feelings at the time of tragedy like this. While people from different walks of life, including RSS swayamsevaks, rose to the occasion and lent a helping hand to those in need in the flood-hit Valley, the Army once again displayed its dedication to help the needy. But, after a gap of several years, the Centre rushed help to the needy people in J&K with dedication and purpose,” Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat said that the swiftness with which the NDA Government rushed relief to the flood-affected people threw up some positive signals of the change in governance at the Centre. “But, I do not want to dwell on this issue. Because everyday some positive news or the other is already appearing newspapers. We are reading analyses and expert opinions on these developments. This Government has not completed six months. But, we begun to realise that perhaps under Modi’s leadership, we are steadily moving towards realising the dreams of building a Bharat that we have perceived in our minds over the years,” the RSS chief said.
“What we are witnessing is a very good development. We should continue to wait with the same optimism and confidence in this new dispensation. We have to give this Government some time, because even this Government does not possess a magic wand that it can remedy the ills facing the country in one go,” Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat said that Modi’s recent visit to the US had sent positive signals and has ushered a new enthusiasm among people of the country. “A new ray of hope has entered in the hearts of the people. The entire country was feeling proud of the visit and the subsequent talks with the US Government,” he said.
The RSS’ Dussehra function coincided with the 89th foundation day of the organisation. The Right-wing RSS was founded on Vijayadashmi in 1925 in Nagpur. Dwelling upon the need for the Government to take the nation towards self-reliance,
Bhagwat said: “It is necessary that policies of the Government should take the nation towards self reliance and should encourage entrepreneurship among the people, but it is equally important for the people to encourage consumption of Swadeshi products. We talk about the need for self-reliance and say that the Government should stand up to invasion of Chinese goods into the Indian market. However, till we stop purchasing the Chinese goods even to the extent of statues made by the Chinese, where will the Government get strength from to pursue its policies towards self reliance”.
Exhorting the society to play an important role in meeting challenges like infiltration and smuggling from across the border and the menace of Naxal activity, he said: “Those individuals engaged in various kind of smuggling from across the borders are our own people. Those people who provide shelter and employment to the infiltrators from the borders are also the very citizens of our country. The social situations causing exploitation of poor and lack of development finally help the Naxals in recruiting poor youths as their cannon fodder”.
Bhagwat called upon the Government to impose a ban on meat exports, beef in particular and cow smuggling in the immediate future. Speaking on terrorism, Bhyagwat said that there was a serious upsurge in the jehadi activities in the southern parts of the country, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
“No visible reduction in smuggling of rare earth minerals from the southern coast has come to notice. In states like West Bengal and Assam, the population imbalance has been caused by illegal migration of a particular community from across the national borders. We have to see a joint plan of action by both the Centre and State Governments in curbing the activities Jehadi and Naxal extremists and those forces which are helping and promoting them”.
Bhagwat accused the western countries of acting on “selfish interest” of procuring oil in West Asia and attributed this as the cause of rise in terror activities of the Islamic State (IS).”Self-centered collective greed gives rise to exploitation, suppression, violence and fanaticism. The basis of selfish interest by the western countries is fully responsible for a new incarnation of terror and fundamentalism that emerged in West Asia in the name of ISIS which is terrorising the world,” the RSS chief said.
Without actually referring to the recent “love jehad” controversy, bhagwat said: “There is an urgent need to take up eradication of social discrimination in our society in a bigger and faster way...We will have to drive out even the smallest of the remnants of our caste based, regional and linguistic egos which breed such prejudices. We will have to stop ourselves from even listening to or speaking such provocative statements which encourage such prejudices in our hearts. We must also stop ourselves from participating in any such violent activity that arises from such provocative speech and environment”.
Bhagwat also called for ban on “provocative” advertisements, but said what we have to watch is in our own hands.