RSS chief demands Ram Temple at the earliest, hails inter-caste marriage
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday called for building a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya at the earliest and disapproved of lynching in the name of cow vigilantism. He also called for mainitaining demographic balance and supported growing acceptance of inter-caste marriage in society.
Speaking at the third and final day of the RSS mega conclave, “Bhavishya Ka Bharat — An RSS Perspective”, Bhagwat made a strong pitch for the construction of the Ram Temple, which has remained the Sangh’s most favored agenda for years. “It should have happened by now (the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya). If this happens it would resolve many issues, including differences between Hindus and Muslims. It is the question of faith of crores of Hindus,” he said.
“As a Sangh worker, head of the sangh and as a part of Ram Janambhoomi andaloan, I want that a grand Ram temple should be constructed at the earliest at the birthplace of Lord Ram,” he said.
Bhagwat did not approve of those involved in lynching in the name of protecting cows saying Muslims are also among those who run gaushalas.
“Gaushala acchhi chalane wale Musalman bhi hain”, Bhagwat said.
Stating that cow could be the mainstay of the economy of small farmers, the RSS head said anyone believing that existence of cow is for the benefit of society would not indulge in the act of lynching.
At the same time, he asserted that cow smugglers should also be condemned and talked about. “The double-faced dialogue cannot be allowed,” he affirmed.
The RSS chief said service to cow leads to a definite dilution in criminal instincts.
Touching on variety of topics during the question-answer session, he called for continuing with reservations for the SC/ST as provided in the Constitution and sought a population control policy which should be applicable for all the communities.
Supporting inter-caste marriages, Bhagwat claimed that maximum examples of such marriages could be found in the Nagpur organisation.
He did not approve of religious conversions by allurement but had no objection to the conversion on one’s own will. In this regard, he gave an example of a Chitpawan Brahmin in Maharashtra who turned a devotee of Jesus.
On the SC/ST atrocities (Prevention) Act as passed by Parliament, he said it should not be misused against any one and none should be subjected to injustice.
Bhagwat said the RSS was ready to offer its “swayamsevaks” to any other political party other than the BJP if so asked for.
Replying to the written questions, he said the BJP was given general secretary (organised) since it approached the RSS and identified with “our ideology”.
“Jo mangata hai to dete hain, mange ge to denge”, he said adding BJP supported Ram Mandir and so in return received the RSS backing.
The RSS leader said during Emergency, dissident Congress leader Jagjivan Ram and even Marxists got support from the Sangh.
On another question as why second RSS chief Guru Golwarkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts” sees Muslims as an enemy, Bhagwat said certain thing are time and context specific and hasten to add that his other works should be read. He said Muslims are as much part of the country as anybody else and maintained that his organisation didn’t consider any community as minority.
Asked why in politics terms like “Shamshan and Kabristan” are thrown around in poll campaigns, the Sangh head said this happens when politics becomes an instrument to grab power and not public service. The questionnaire was apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech during Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2016.
The RSS chief sought a population control policy that also takes care of the demographic balance. The RSS leader said it should be applicable to all communities.
Bhagwat did not favour use of NOTA by voters that, he said, only helps in the selection of the most unsuitable candidate.
