AMID THE nationwide debate over the JNU row, the RSS on Friday called for strict action against “anti-national” and “anti-social” forces in universities, and said “slogans calling for breaking up and destruction of the nation” could not be tolerated. “We expect the central and state governments to deal strictly with such anti-national and anti-social forces to ensure the sanctity and cultural atmosphere by not allowing our educational institutions to become centres of political activities,” said the RSS as it began its three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha in Nagaur, a Jat-dominated town which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. Besides RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and other top brass, BJP president Amit Shah was also present on the opening day. “Reports about anti-national activities in certain universities have become a matter of concern for the patriotic people. In the name of freedom of expression, how can the slogans, calling for breaking up and destruction of the nation, be tolerated and how can the guilty, who had hatched the conspiracy to blow up Parliament, be honoured as martyrs,” the RSS said in its annual report presented at the meeting. [related-post] “Such subversive elements have made these universities the centres of their activities for long. When they find certain political parties supporting such anti-national elements, the concern (of patriotic persons) grows further,” the report said. It said such incidents “pollute the social environment” and those who carry out these activities have “no faith in our Constitution, judiciary, Parliament”. Blaming the recent protests in Jawaharlal Nehru University and Hyderabad University on the “unease among anti-national and anti-social forces” over the increasing acceptance of the “nationalist discourse”, it said “it is very delightful that the moment the reports about these incidents became public, there was all around condemnation from everywhere.” Among other issues, the report also mentioned the row over entry of women in some temples, Pathankot attack, communal clashes and quota agitations in Gujarat and Haryana. According to the RSS, the controversy over entry of women in some temples is an “unsavoury controversy” raised by “elements inimical to the wellbeing of society”. “Generally, both men and women are permitted entry into the temples without any discrimination. However, because of some unfair traditions, at certain places there has been a lack of consensus. Wherever such problems exist, attempts should be made to bring about a change of mind through proper discussions. It has to be borne in mind that such sensitive issues should not be politicised and should be resolved only through dialogue. and not agitations,” it said. Talking about recent communal clashes, the RSS said, “People at different places, armed with weapons, taking to the road in large numbers and creating an atmosphere of fear and tension, as happened in Malda, has become endemic these days. Incidents of destruction of public and private property, attacking the police force. looting and burning of business establishments, especially those run by Hindus, have taken place.” It urged political parties to shun “their policy of appeasement” and take these incidents seriously. Expressing concern over the Pathankot attack, it said although security forces have been successful in repulsing terror attacks, it is necessary to further tighten security arrangements. “To curb illegal migration, Pak-inspired terrorism and other such activities, it is necessary to review the infrastructural facilities to develop border areas, border security from time to time,” it said. On the quota movements, it said: “Violent agitations in Gujarat and Haryana for the demand of reservation are not only a challenge to the administrative machinery, but will also weaken the social harmony and trust. There should be no injustice or oppression of anybody, but the society should be vigilant and administration should take strict action on the persons and organisations engaged in anti-national activities in a planned manner.”
