Maintaining that India “stunned” China through its response to the latter’s efforts to intrude into the country’s borders, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday the only way for New Delhi to neutralise the neighbouring country’s “demonic aspirations” was to grow bigger than Beijing economically, strategically, in matters relating to internal and border security and also by way of improving the ties with neighbours and bettering international relations.
Addressing a customary Dussehra rally at the Reshimbaug ground in Nagpur, Bhagwat minced no words when he spoke against China’s expansionist attitude in general and its recent efforts to intrude into the Indian territory in particular. Keeping in view the social distancing norms arising out of the Covid-19 crisis, the RSS chief — for the first time in the history of his organisation —addressed a rally of mere 50 swayamsevaks. However, his speech was televised across the country as has been practice in recent years.
“China’s role in the breakout of this pandemic may be disputable but its misuse of their riches by unleashing terror on the borders of Bharat and boisterous efforts to invade our territories are well-known to the whole world. The Indian defence forces, Government and the people remained unfazed and responded sharply to this attack. This example of a strong resolution, exercising self-respect and bravery has stunned China,” Bhagwat said.
“The only way for India to neutralise the neighbouring country’s demonic aspirations is to grow bigger than Beijing economically, strategically, in matters relating to internal security and border security and also by way of improving ties with neighbours and bettering our international relations,” the RSS chief said.
“The policies proposed by our leaders seem to be charting those very horizons. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar- such neighbouring countries have shared a friendly bond with us and are more or less aligned over issues of values and ethical code with us,” Bhagwat said.
“We must now pace up our efforts to secure cooperative bonds with these countries. The impediments in this journey like the differences of opinions, conflicted issues and old grouses must be settled sooner than later,” the RSS chief said.
“We intend to be friendly with all. This is our nature. But mistaking our benevolence for weakness and attempts to disintegrate or weaken us by sheer brute force is unacceptable. Our reckless detractors should know this by now. The indestructible patriots and their formidable valour, leaders with a sense of self-respect and the indomitable ethical-patience of the citizens should have sent a loud and clear message to China,” he said.
“This must compel it to reform its attitude but if push comes to shove we will not fall short of alertness, firmness and readiness, this resolve is clear among our countrymen,” Bhagwat said.
Alluding to the protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which he said “doesn’t oppose any specific religious community”, Bhagwat charged that “opportunists took advantage of this delicate situation by unleashing organised violence and causing social unrest in the name of protests”. “As a consequence, a tense atmosphere was created in the country that put our communal harmony at stake,” he said.
“The CAA was lawfully passed in Parliament as per the due constitutional process. This law envisaged expediting the process of granting citizenship to our brothers and sisters who face discrimination and persecution in some of the neighbouring countries and are displaced to seek refuge in our country. These countries have a history of religious persecution against minorities. This amendment in the Citizenship Act does not oppose any particular religious community, Bhagwat said.
“The constitutional provisions for granting citizenship to foreigners who come to Bharat continue to be the same. But those who wanted to oppose this new law misled our Muslim brothers by propagating a false notion that it was aimed at restricting the Muslim population.
“Even before something could be thought out and done to resolve the CAA-triggered situation the corona pandemic crept in and gradually took hold. In the background, the efforts by rioters and opportunists to reignite the conflict still continue,” the RSS chief said.
Averring that the corona pandemic had shadowed all other developments issues in India and across the country including “many noteworthy incidents that took place between the last Vijayadashami and now”, Bhagwat said: “While Article 370 was abrogated well before the Vijayadashami last year, the Honourable Supreme Court on November 9, 2019 passed an unambiguous, verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, thereby making a historical judgment”.
The RSS chief said that the exemplary patience and understanding displayed by Indians regarding this judgment became evident in the restraint along with piety and festive fervour displayed on August 5 in Ayodhya at the bhoomipujan and shilanyas samaroh of the soon-to-be constructed Ram Mandir there.
On the corona crisis, Bhagwat said: “The corona pandemic has bestowed the wisdom to differentiate regular from irregular and eternal from temporary upon all of humanity. With many families actively deliberating sustainable lifestyles compatible with the time and space and the ways to transition into those, people have become acutely aware of the merit of cultural ethos. Humans have once again realised the importance of family systems and the need for harmonious coexistence with nature”.
Clarifying the RSS’ stand about Hindustan being Hindu Rashtra, Bhagwat said: “When Sangh says Hindusthan is Hindu Rashtra it does not have any political or power centered concept in its mind. Hindutva is the essence of this Rashtra’s ‘Swa’(self-hood). We are plainly acknowledging the selfhood of the country as Hindu because all our socio-cultural practices are directed by its principles with their spirit percolating in the personal, familial, professional and social life of each one of us.
“In dealing with the emotional ambit of this view of life does not require giving up one’s faith, language, land or any other identity marker. It only mandates an abandonment of the quest for supremacy. One has only to be alert and keep away from the selfish and hateful forces who confuse and instigate people by showing them false dreams of supremacy, encourage radicalism and foster separatism,” the RSS chief said.
On the need to decentralise agriculture and manufacturing sectors by supporting small and medium scale enterprises, creating employment opportunities, Bhagwat said: “This issue that involves aiding the self-employed, initiating eco-friendly businesses and self-sufficient production units aiming to bolster the economic progress has drawn the attention of many intellectuals alongside the policy-makers of the country in this time of corona”.
“Those employed in these sectors from small-time and seasoned entrepreneurs to farmers are all eager to taste entrepreneurial success for our nation. The Government will need to provide extra cover for them so they can attain world-class standards that will allow them to stand a competitive chance alongside other economic giants of the world,” the RSS chief said.
