RSS national executive: Surgical strikes to Ram Mandir, old and new issues dominate meet

It was a mixed bag of old and new issues that dominated the three-day national annual executive meet of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baithak (ABKM) in Hyderabad. While it continued to repeat its view on age-old topics such as ‘Gau Raksha’ and Ram Mandir, some new issues such as Surgical strikes against Pakistan and Chinese goods showed that the organisation was in sync with the changing times. On one hand, the Sangh reiterated that the Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya, on the other, it strongly condemned violence by radical jihadi elements in the country. [caption id=“attachment_2987034” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat with other RSS members. AFP[/caption] Referring to communal violence by radical jihadi elements in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, and inaction by the ruling establishments, the Sangh demanded urgent action against the perpetrators. The RSS has alleged that in several southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, jihadi elements have unleashed violent attacks against Hindus, especially on Swayamsevaks (RSS workers). Urging the state governments to take strong action against the culprits, the RSS alleged that the violent incidents indicate a nexus between the radicalised elements in southern states and the international terrorist outfits like Islamic State (IS). “It’s evident from the recent arrests of such elements in Kerala and Telangana,” the Sangh said. Slamming the Left for unleashing brutal attacks on Sangh activists, the RSS alleged that the CPI(M) cadre in Kerala has been indulging in politically motivated murders of RSS and BJP workers. On the concluding day, the RSS Sarkaryavah (general secretary) Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, who had presided over the three-day meet made the Sangh’s stand clear on some of the major political, social and economic issues. On Ram Mandir The RSS said that the issue of Ram Mandir is close to the heart of Hindu society and has been in Sangh’s focus for over 30 years. Mincing no words, Sangh’s general secretary made it clear that the Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya. “After the Allahabad High Court judgment, it’s clear that Ram Mandir should be built in Ayodhya. However, we are waiting for the Supreme Court to deliver its verdict,” said Joshi. On Gau Raksha (Cow protection) “Gauraksha shouldn’t be viewed only from a religious angle but we must also take into consideration desi-gau (Desi Cow) forms the backbone of Bharat’s rural economy. Deterioration of soil due to excessive use of pesticides can be addressed only by cow-based farming,” asserted Joshi. On Minority issue Referring to the Indian Constitution’s “We the people of India”, the Sangh wanted to clear its stand on minority-majority issue that’s plaguing the nation at present. It said as the Constitution doesn’t make any distinction between a minority and a majority, this issue doesn’t find a place in our constitution. “By twisting the meaning, we have ended up in minority-majority politics,” the RSS said. On Triple Talaq and Uniform Civil Code The Sangh’s stand on the current debate on triple talaq was that it’s an internal problem of the Muslim community, but it added that the judiciary should take a humane approach while deliberating on the issue. “Discrimination based on gender is not right. It’s a challenge for the society to safeguard the interest of women, and the society should review it closely. On uniform civil code, the law must be upheld without discrimination and without disturbing cultural traditions and social fabric,” remarked Joshi. On politicisation of surgical strikes The Sangh has expressed its strong support for the government’s decision of conducting the surgical strikes at Pakistan-occupied Kashmir against the militants in September, but condemned the politicisation of the strike. “For national security, the government took a strong decision (of a surgical strike) and the Army bravely executed it. We congratulate both the army and the government for their decisive strike to ensure country’s security,” Joshi said. On Chinese goods Emphasising strongly on using swadeshi (indigenous) goods, the RSS said that not only Chinese, but India must find an alternative to all forms of imported goods. Except for those ones having no alternative, use of indigenous (Bharatiya) goods should be encouraged. On Pakistani artists The country recently witnessed a major uproar after Raj Thakre’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) opposed the participation of Pakistani actors in Hindi films in Bollywood. Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has been given permission to be screened with a rider that henceforth no Pakistani artists would be allowed to act in any Indian film. Referring to it, the RSS maintained, “Art is universal and so is an artist’s domain. However, when the artist refuses to respect our country, why should he or she (actor) be allowed?” On Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy Commemorating the birth centenary of Sangh ideologue and thinker Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya, the RSS said that the solution to present global crisis lies in his philosophy of ‘Integral humanism’. ABKM’s objective ABKM is one of Sangh’s highest policy formulation and decision-making bodies. The objective of the meeting was to review and engage in future planning of organisational matters and activities. The three-day meet inaugurated by RSS chief (Sarsanghchalak) Mohan Bhagwat on 23 October held its multiple sessions on the campus of Vidya Vihar High School at Annojiguda in Hyderabad. Nearly 400 Sangh functionaries including Sanghchalak (president), Karyavah (secretary), Pracharaks (organising secretaries) heading state units and functionaries from RSS affiliate bodies like Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, etc participated in the three-day-long brainstorming sessions. “During the meeting, besides discussions on national issues, resolutions on a few key national issues were reportedly passed. The reports of activities of all the organisations and affiliates were submitted in the meeting and state wise activities were reviewed,” an RSS source said. Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Manmohan Vaidya said, “RSS conducts three important national level meetings every year – Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (March), Prant Pracharak Baithaks (July) and Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal before Diwali festival. In 2009, Sangh took an initiative to spread its shakhas and at present about 55,000 shakhas are run across the country. While 65 percent of the swayamsevaks are undergoing daily training at shakhas are students, 91 percent are below 40 years of age. We’ve received nearly 47,200 online requests from youth to join the RSS in the first six months of 2016, a surge of 35 percent compared to last year.”