Cautioning that demographic manipulation is a bigger threat to India’s social harmony than infiltration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stressed that the country’s soul has always been rooted in “unity in diversity” and warned that if this principle is broken, the nation’s strength will be diminished.
Making this assertion while addressing the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said divisions fuelled by caste, language, regionalism and extremist thinking could weaken the nation if not confronted.
Modi also recalled his August 15 speech and the announcement of his Demographic Mission to “protect Indian citizens against infiltrators snatching livelihood of youth targeting our sisters and daughters.” The PM also said the struggles faced by the nation today are different. “Economic dependence on other countries is a conspiracy to break our unity.” This note of caution was in apparent reference to recent stiff tariffs imposed by the US on Indian exports.
Praising the Government, PM Modi said he was “very satisfied” that these challenges and struggles were being dealt with swiftly. On the occasion, the PM also released a special postage stamp and a commemorative coin to mark the centenary of the RSS.
The `100 coin features the national emblem on one side and, for the first time in independent India, an image of Bharat Mata on the other side, seated on a lion with swayamsevaks bowing before her. A special postal stamp was also released today, depicting RSS swayamsevaks proudly participating in the 1963 Republic Day Parade,” he added.
The centenary celebrations were organised by the Ministry of Culture and attended by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.