RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hails Modi, Indian Army for surgical strikes,
KANPUR : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday delivered his annual speech on the occasion of Dusshera and the 91st Foundation Day of the outfit at the Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur.
Bhagwat began his speech by remembering Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh on his birth centenary during Vijaydashmi speech. “Life of Guru Gobind Singh was dedicated to the country and society,” he said.
Hitting out at a spate of attacks on minority communities by cow vigilantes, Bhagwat gave them a stern message and asked them to work within the limits of the law in his annual Dussehra speech.
“Due to discrimination based on caste, creed or language, a few incidents take place in our society which are shameful,” Bhagwat said.”There are some people who are dedicated to cow protection; it is part of directive principles of state policy. Cow protection is a must, but I urge cow vigilantes to not break the law.
“Cow vigilantes perform an important role and it’s important to distinguish between those who protect the cow and others who are self-appointed,” said Mohan Bhagwat, who heads the ruling BJP’s ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS.
Mr Bhagwat said the cow, which is revered by Hindus, is to be protected by law, and vigilantes or gau rakshaks who operate within the law perform an important service.
Attacks, often filmed, on men accused of cow slaughter drove Prime Minister Narenda Modi to declare in August, “I feel so angry at times. Some people who are engaged in anti-social activities wear the mask of gau rakshaks.”
Gau-rakshaks operate under the law and administration must keep in mind that those who break the law shouldn’t be compared to gau-rakshaks. We should separate ‘Gau-sevaks’ from the trouble making ‘gau-rakashaks’. I urge the government to insure that miscreants don’t misuse the law in the name of gau-raksha (cow protection)” he said.
“Small farmers are dependent on the cows. When organic farming is carried out using cow produce it increase production, ” he added further.Bhagwat commended the Indian Army for successfully carrying out surgical strikes across the Line of Control against terrorist launch pads and hailed the Narendra Modi government at Centre for working for country’s progess.
“I heartily congratulate our Government and our valorous soldiers and all the wings of our Armed Forces for carrying out surgical strikes. The government at Centre has taken a commendable step by carrying out surgical strikes at LoC. However, our borders should be guarded and well managed,” he said.
“India is progressing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi; however, there are some parts of the world which do not want to see India progress,” he said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
Training his guns on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for sponsoring terror-related activities on its border against India, Bhagwat said, “We know trouble makes in Kashmir get support from across the border.
Pakistan is encouraging separatist forces in Kashmir and is fuelling unrest in Kashmir; however, they have been given a fitting reply by our Army. I want to make them know that entire Kashmir including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistani is part of India.”
“Events in Jammu and Kashmir are worrying. Large part of Kashmir is free of tension. We must act against those indulging in violence, strict action should be taken, ” Bhagwat said.
RSS was founded on the occasion of Vijayadashami in 1925. There is a visible departure from tradition this time – RSS workers are officially donning their new outfit or ganavesh, replacing khaki shorts with brown trousers.
Every year, Bhagwat’s outlines his message to his cadre on Dussehra. His speech is also seen as a message to the saffron party. Present at the event were Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
