Hindu society guarantee unity; ‘us and them’ concept never existed: Bhagwat
Bhagwat raised concerns over the unrest in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Gen Z protest in Nepal, saying these “so-called revolutions” do not achieve their objectives.
PTI
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Former president Ram Nath Kovind was present as the chief guest at the event. (PTI)
Nagpur, 2 Oct
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday
said the strength and character of the Hindu society guarantee unity,
underscoring that the concept of “us and them” never existed.
He advocated ‘swadeshi’ (use of indigenous resources) and
‘swavalamban’ (self-reliance), and said that the positions of other nations
after the Pahalgam attack showed the nature and extent of their friendship with
India.
Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi rally of the RSS at
Reshimbagh here, he raised concerns over the unrest in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and the Gen Z protest in Nepal, saying these “so-called revolutions” do not
achieve their objectives.
The event also marked the centenary celebrations of the
Sangh, which was founded on the occasion of Dussehra in 1925 in Nagpur by
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a physician from Maharashtra.
“Hindu society is a responsible one. The idea of ‘us’ and
‘them’ never existed here. A divided house cannot stand, and every individual
is unique in their own way. Invaders came and went, but the way of life
endured. Our inherent cultural unity is our strength,” he said.
The strength and character of the Hindu society guarantee
national unity, he said.
Bhagwat paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former primeminister Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose birth anniversaries are celebrated on 2 October.
“Gandhiji’s contribution to the freedom struggle is
unparalleled, while Shastri’s life and times exemplify devotion and commitment.
They are examples of personal and national character which we have to emulate,”
he said.
The RSS chief said the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj was the
epitome of faith and unity, while the Pahalgham attack, during which terrorists
crossed the border and killed 26 Indians by checking their religion, triggered
anger and hurt the country. It also drew a fitting response from India, he
said, referring to Operation Sindoor.
“The attack caused immense pain and anger in the country.
Our government made complete preparations and gave a firm rebuttal. In the
aftermath, the leadership’s resolve, the valour of our armed forces and the
unity of society were evident,” he said.
A country needs friends but has to be alert to its
surroundings, said the RSS chief.
“Even though we maintain friendly relations with other
countries, and we will continue to do so, when it comes to our security, we
need to be more careful, more watchful and stronger. After the Pahalgam attack,
the positions taken by various countries also revealed which of them are our
friends, and to what extent,” Bhagwat said.
He said extremist elements like Naxalites have faced action
from the government, while society too has distanced itself after recognising
their “hollowness”.
Bhagwat also said that the lack of schemes ensuring justice,
development, goodwill, sensitivity and strength often leads to the rise of
extremist forces. “People who are annoyed by the system’s lethargy tend to seek
support from such extremist elements. To prevent this, the state and society
must work together through initiatives that give people faith in the system,”
he said.
Referring to the tarifs adopted by America under President
Donald Trump, Bhagwat said it will impact everyone.
“Dependence shouldn’t be compulsion. Even though there
should be unity in the world, there is no substitute for swadeshi and
swavalamban. International political trade and economic relations should be as
per our wish and not a compulsion,” he said.
The RSS chief also raised concerns over climate change,
saying it has been adversely impacting the environment for the past three to
four years. “Himalaya is our security wall and should be protected. We have to
revisit development policies to ensure that,” he said.
Bhagwat also said that the unrest in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and the recent Gen Z agitation in Nepal is a matter of concern as they are
India’s neighbours.
“Change can happen by democratic means. The so-called
revolutions do not achieve their objectives. Outside forces get an opportunity
(to further their agenda) in such situations. We feel they are ours and not
just our neighbours. The situation there is of concern to us,” he said.
Bhagwat said the RSS was asked to join politics, but
swayamsevaks did only one thing regularly: “Running shakhas in every
situation.”
Former president Ram Nath Kovind was present as the chief
guest at the event.
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