Opinion Bhagwat speak

The lead news item in the latest issue of the RSS journal Organiser titled “Religious reservations violate the Constitution — Mohan Bhagwat” talks about a function attended by Bhagwat. The news story begins with Bhagwat’s quote: ‘The reservation being granted to some sections of the society by even going against the main spirit of the Constitution will divide the society. The government should refrain from this type of reservation. The so-called minorities are being given much more benefits in the country today than that is being given to the majority community. So much so that belonging to the majority community has become a crime,’ said RSS sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat. He was addressing a sangh samagam organised at Magh Mela Parade Ground in Prayag on January 3. The sarsanghachalak was referring to the UPA government’s attempts to introduce reservation in education and jobs as recommended by the Ranganath Misra Commission. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included VHP president Ashok Singhal,former Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi,former state BJP president Kesari Nath Tripathi. Coming down heavily on the political leaders who are dividing the society in the name of caste,religion,language,community and region,Bhagwat said these leaders have nothing to do with the security and main problems of the country. They want only power”.

The news item in the RSS organ further adds: “Commenting on the violent agitation going on in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh,Bhagwat termed it the handiwork of the political leaders who indulge in petty politics. ‘It is due to this petty politics that the leaders are safe and the public property is being damaged there,’ he said citing the views of Guruji who had said in 1962 that the states should not be created on the basis of language or religion. But unfortunately this type of problem is seen by all of us today. Commenting on the worldwide concern being expressed over environmental degradation and pollution Bhagwat said the problem of environmental pollution has come into being due to the exploitative western lifestyle and it could not be cured until the world accepts the lifestyle based on the Hindu view that teaches to take as much from the nature as we require. ‘The only way to protect the environment is to adopt the culture that teaches sacrifice and the Hindu culture is that culture. We take from the nature only as much as we require,’ he said stressing on the milking (dohan) of natural resources rather than exploiting them.

Malay discrimination

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The latest issue’s editorial,titled “India should be concerned about human rights issues of Pravasi Bharatiyas”,says: “The Union government is very enthusiastic about holding the Pravasi Bharatiya International Conference with great fanfare as it is an occasion to canvass for increased NRI investments and win encomiums from the powerful non-resident Indian community abroad. But unfortunately,it takes little or no interest in addressing the problems of the less privileged Indian community which is looking for support and intervention in the face of near racial annihilation in countries like Malaysia. For the last many years groups of Indian origin people from Malaysia have been petitioning the Indian government of the serious racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing going on in that country. There are some two million people of Indian origin living there,majority of them are Tamil speaking Hindus. They are a proud,hard working,law abiding and tradition bound community. They look to India for cultural and spiritual inspiration. Now,they are seeking political initiatives also… This journal has on a number of earlier occasions reported state sponsored atrocities and discriminations,wanton destruction of thousands of temples,forced occupation of temple property,crematorium and religious intolerance in that country”.

It adds: “India traditionally has cordial relations with the Malaysian government. India has large areas of mutual cooperation and trade relations with that country. The Indian government with its record of excessive pandering to Indian minorities can canvass and convince its counterpart in Malaysia to be more humane,at least be mindful of the UN Declaration of Human Rights which in itself will go a long way in helping the Indian community lead a life of dignity. It can also open a special wing in the Ministry of External Affairs to register and follow-up on human rights violations and religious freedom of Indian origin overseas communities. This is the least the Government of India can do as it hosts such self-serving jamborees year after year in the name of Pravasi Bharatiyas”.

Compiled by Suman K. Jha