Praising the Modi Government for lifting the country from the mood of “despondency” and “creating an atmosphere of hope and confidence”, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the world is experiencing “a new modern Bharat”, which is “full of self-respect and self-confidence”.
“Bharat is reincarnating itself into an altogether new manifestation and the world is enchanted to see Bharat’s new avatar with utmost optimism,” Bhagwat said in his annual Dussehra address at Nagpur on the completion of 90 years of the Sangh’s foundation.
The RSS Sarsanghchalak, however, cautioned against the rising population in the country and stressed the need to stem its tide. Bhagwat favoured a “uniform population policy which is applicable to all”. He took exception to the fact that no holistic discussion has taken place in the country on controlling the population.
With incidents like Dadri lynching sparking a debate, Bhagwat said “small episodes” that “get exaggerated” cannot damage Hindu culture and the country will always “stand as one”.
“Small episodes happen. They get exaggerated and presented in a big way... Small incidents keep happening but these cannot distort Indian culture, Hindu culture. Since time immemorial, it respects diversity, coordinates among diversities to establish unity... This is Hindutva,” he said.
“Our country has stood as one and will stand as one. The Sangh has been doing the work of keeping the nation one on the basis of Hindutva for the last 90 years,” he said in his address which was telecast live by Doordarshan for the second year in a row.
Bhagwat said India’s external security was threatened by “enmity-minded” Pakistan and “expansionist” China, besides emergence of fundamentalist organisations like ISIS.
“We have to guard against them. Some young people are also getting misguided by the ISIS ideology,” the Sangh head said.
Bhagwat repeatedly called for a dialogue for settling contentious issues in his address. The RSS chief praised the Narendra Modi Government for lifting the country from the mood of “dispondency”.
“Two years ago there was an atmosphere of despondency. Now we are not worried. An atmosphere of hope and confidence has been created now, so expectations are high,” he said, adding Swachchh Bharat, Mudra Bank, Jan Dhan Yojana and surrender of gas subsidy are “good omen”.
“However, pulling the economy out of the abyss takes some time,” he said.
Bhagwat began his 55-minute-speech by invoking Dalit icon BR Ambedkar whom he credited for making provisions in the Constitution to remove social and economic inequality faced by the weaker sections.
He said RSS “united” the society on its three beliefs of “Hindu culture, Hindu forefathers and Hindu land” pervading the Indian nation and insisted that this is the “only way”.
“These three beliefs that unite our society will have to be established. This is what the Sangh has been working for. This is the only way that will result in something. This is the time,” he said as he asked people to join RSS as volunteers.
Bhagwat praised the Modi Government’s performance on the global stage.
“A balance has to be struck...As we extend our hand of friendship, we have to protect our own interests too. This is what we are doing today,” he said.
“Today, India’s Yoga, Geeta and Tathagat are being discussed the world over,” he said.
In his speech, Bhagwat repeatedly called for a dialogue for settling contentious issues.
Amid accusations of attempts at deliberate change in the education system, Bhagwat said there was a need for reforming the sector to make it affordable to the common man.
“Commercialisation of education must stop. In the present times, a common man cannot even dream of pursuing many courses. The country cannot progress with education that only helps fill the stomach. It should be based on the social needs, it should inculcate values and conscientiousness,” he said.
Niti Ayog member and a former DRDO chief Vijay Saraswat, who was sharing the RSS platform at the function, said India could offer to the world its cultural tolerance.
Chief guest at the RSS function, Saraswat said “Bharatiyata” (Indianess) sees life in an integrated manner as conceptualised by late Jan Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. “ Upadhyaya conceptualised Bharatiyata, which means culture, which unlike western thoughts sees life as an integrated whole,” said Saraswat.