Reach out to Dalits, share spaces, friendships forge harmony: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

The RSS chief said that the first condition for a healthy and able society is social harmony and mutual goodwill among different sections. “This task cannot be accomplished by merely organising some symbolic programmes. In all sections of society, there should be friendship between individuals and families. Wherever I go and where I work, I should have friends among all kinds of people. Languages can be diverse, cultures can be diverse, food can be diverse, but this friendship of individuals and families will bring harmony in society,” he said.

Bhagwat said that there should be an environment for participation of all sections of society in places of public use and worship such as temples, drinking water, crematoriums etc. He said that everyone should understand the needs of weaker sections of society which arise from the circumstances they face.

“I was in a meeting where our Valmiki brothers were there. They said our children do not have schools. People from the Rajput community were there. They got up and said your colony is adjacent to ours and we have a school. We will take 20% students from your colony and teach them without any fees. Just as the strong members of a family make more provisions for the weaker members, sometimes even at the cost of their own loss, similarly such needs should be considered with the feeling of belongingness to each other,” he said.

While Bhagwat has spoken on bridging caste divisions multiple times in the past, this is the first elaborate articulation by the RSS chief on the need for “friendship of individuals and families” as being an imperative for “harmony.”

This is also the first such detailed argument for social harmony by Bhagwat following the 2024 Lok Sabha polls where the BJP fell short of a simple majority by stalling at 240 seats.

It has been argued that the BJP’s prospects were dented as sections of Dalits and backwards deserted the party amid their apprehensions that a “400-plus majority” for the BJP-led NDA could lead to a change in the Constitution and end of their reservation. Many BJP leaders have even suggested this as one of the reasons behind the setback.

It also comes at a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made caste the cornerstone of his politics, pushing for a caste census across the country.

Indeed, addressing BJP workers following the party’s victory in the recent Haryana polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on the offensive against the Congress, saying its leader Rahul Gandhi’s constant caste refrain “can divide the country”. An OBC face himself, Modi said: “They (Congress) will never allow a Dalit, tribal or OBC to become PM… So, when Dalits, tribals or OBCs acquire power and posts, they squirm.”

On his part, Bhagwat said, “Words like ‘Deep State’, ‘Wokeism’, ‘Cultural Marxist’ are in discussion these days. In fact, they are the declared enemies of all cultural traditions. Complete destruction of values, traditions and whatever is considered virtuous and auspicious is a part of the modus operandi of this group. In a society living together, an identity-based group is motivated to separate on the basis of its actual or artificially created specialty, demand, need or a problem. A feeling of victimhood is created in them.” He indicated this was the current political atmosphere in the country.

“By fanning discontent, that element is pulled apart from the rest of the society, and made aggressive against the system. Direct conflicts are created by finding fault lines in the society. An atmosphere of anarchy and fear is created by intensifying distrust and hatred towards the system, laws, governance, administration etc. This makes it easy to establish one’s dominance over that country,” he added.

Bhagwat said there was competition among parties to gain power. “If petty selfish interests in society become more important than mutual harmony or the unity and integrity of the nation; or if the harmony of society and the pride and integrity of the nation are considered secondary in the competition among parties, then in such party politics, their modus operandi is to stand in support of one party and advance their destructive agenda in the name of ‘Alternative Politics’,” Bhagwat said.

Giving the example of “Arab Spring” and the situation in Bangladesh, Bhagwat said, “We are seeing similar evil attempts all around Bharat — especially in the border and tribal areas.”

Bhagwat said a narrative is being spread in neighbouring Bangladesh, which recently underwent a political upheaval and power shift, that India was a “threat” and that they should join Pakistan as a defence against Bharat. He asked who is spreading such a narrative.

The RSS chief said the Hindu community in Bangladesh faced “atrocities” and came out to defend themselves. “Being unorganised and weak is like inviting atrocities by the wicked. Hindus need to be united,” he said.

Bhagwat also attacked the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government over the  rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Hospital, calling it disgraceful. He said attempts were made to protect criminals in this case.

In his last year’s Vijayadashami speech too, Bhagwat had broached the subject of caste divisions even as he had cautioned people against attempts to garner votes by inflaming emotions ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Warning against “divisiveness” of caste or community, Bhagwat had pointed out, “People do not get a house on rent in ‘another’ locality.”

The RSS chief had then also raised the issue of the Manipur crisis, suggesting that the Modi government had done its best to bring about peace in the state and that there were “outside forces” involved in the conflict there. He made a passing reference to the strife-torn state this time.