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Tag: RSS chief

  • RSS chief a ‘rashtra pita’, says All India Imam Organisation head after meeting with Bhagwat

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Taking forward his outreach to the Muslim community, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday visited a mosque and a madrassa here and held discussions with the chief of the All India Imam Organisation who termed him ‘rashtra pita’.

    The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ‘sarsangchalak’ went to a mosque in central Delhi’s Kasturba Gandhi Marg and followed it up with a visit to the Madarsa Tajweedul Quran in Azadpur in north Delhi.

    This is the first time he has visited a madrassa, an RSS official accompanying him said.

    All India Imam Organisation chief Umer Ahmed Ilyasi used the ‘rashtra pita’ descriptive for Bhagwat while talking to children at the madrassa.

    However, Bhagwat intervened to say there is only one father of the nation and said everyone is ‘Bharat ki santan’ (child of the nation), according to the RSS official.

    He said the RSS chief also spoke to the children about the need to know more about the nation and stressed that while the modes of worship could be different, all religions must be respected.

    Ilyasi and Bhagwat held talks for about an hour at the mosque, which also houses the office of the All India Imam Organisation and the cleric’s residence.

    ““He is a ‘rashtra pita’. We discussed several issues for strengthening the country,” Ilyasi told PTI, adding that Bhagwat had visited the mosque as well as madrassa on his invitation.

    “With this visit of Bhagwat, a message should go that we all want to work towards strengthening India. For all of us, the nation comes first. Our DNA is the same, it is just that our religion and methods of worshipping god are different,” Ilyasi said, echoing the RSS chief’s words.

    Bhagwat was accompanied by senior Sangh functionaries, including joint general secretary Krishna Gopal and Muslim Rashtriya Manch patron Indresh Kumar.

    In a statement after the visits, RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said, “Sarsanghachalak meets people from all walks of life. It is a part of the continuous general ‘Samvad’ process.”

    The significant visits by the head of the BJP’s ideological mentor came on a day multiple probe agencies conducted raids across the country and arrested more than 100 activists of the Popular Front of India for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

    The RSS chief has been holding discussions with Muslim intellectuals for strengthening communal harmony over the last few weeks.

    He recently met Delhi’s former lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi, former Aligarh Muslim University vice chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah, former MP Shahid Siddiqui as well as businessman Saeed Shervani.

    During the meeting, Bhagwat reportedly raised the issue of the usage of the word “kafir” for Hindus, which he said does not send out a good message.

    The group of Muslim intellectuals, on their part, objected to some right-wing activists calling Muslims “jihadi” and “Pakistanis”.

    They also reportedly told Bhagwat that the real intent behind the word ‘kafir’ was something different but it is now being used as an ‘abuse’ in some quarters.

    The RSS chief, it is learnt, acknowledged the views of the intellectuals and underscored that the “DNA of all Hindus and Muslims are same”.

    The All India Imam Organisation is the representative voice of the community of Indian imams and claims to be the largest imam organisation in the world.

    NEW DELHI: Taking forward his outreach to the Muslim community, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday visited a mosque and a madrassa here and held discussions with the chief of the All India Imam Organisation who termed him ‘rashtra pita’.

    The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ‘sarsangchalak’ went to a mosque in central Delhi’s Kasturba Gandhi Marg and followed it up with a visit to the Madarsa Tajweedul Quran in Azadpur in north Delhi.

    This is the first time he has visited a madrassa, an RSS official accompanying him said.

    All India Imam Organisation chief Umer Ahmed Ilyasi used the ‘rashtra pita’ descriptive for Bhagwat while talking to children at the madrassa.

    However, Bhagwat intervened to say there is only one father of the nation and said everyone is ‘Bharat ki santan’ (child of the nation), according to the RSS official.

    He said the RSS chief also spoke to the children about the need to know more about the nation and stressed that while the modes of worship could be different, all religions must be respected.

    Ilyasi and Bhagwat held talks for about an hour at the mosque, which also houses the office of the All India Imam Organisation and the cleric’s residence.

    ““He is a ‘rashtra pita’. We discussed several issues for strengthening the country,” Ilyasi told PTI, adding that Bhagwat had visited the mosque as well as madrassa on his invitation.

    “With this visit of Bhagwat, a message should go that we all want to work towards strengthening India. For all of us, the nation comes first. Our DNA is the same, it is just that our religion and methods of worshipping god are different,” Ilyasi said, echoing the RSS chief’s words.

    Bhagwat was accompanied by senior Sangh functionaries, including joint general secretary Krishna Gopal and Muslim Rashtriya Manch patron Indresh Kumar.

    In a statement after the visits, RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said, “Sarsanghachalak meets people from all walks of life. It is a part of the continuous general ‘Samvad’ process.”

    The significant visits by the head of the BJP’s ideological mentor came on a day multiple probe agencies conducted raids across the country and arrested more than 100 activists of the Popular Front of India for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

    The RSS chief has been holding discussions with Muslim intellectuals for strengthening communal harmony over the last few weeks.

    He recently met Delhi’s former lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi, former Aligarh Muslim University vice chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah, former MP Shahid Siddiqui as well as businessman Saeed Shervani.

    During the meeting, Bhagwat reportedly raised the issue of the usage of the word “kafir” for Hindus, which he said does not send out a good message.

    The group of Muslim intellectuals, on their part, objected to some right-wing activists calling Muslims “jihadi” and “Pakistanis”.

    They also reportedly told Bhagwat that the real intent behind the word ‘kafir’ was something different but it is now being used as an ‘abuse’ in some quarters.

    The RSS chief, it is learnt, acknowledged the views of the intellectuals and underscored that the “DNA of all Hindus and Muslims are same”.

    The All India Imam Organisation is the representative voice of the community of Indian imams and claims to be the largest imam organisation in the world.

  • UP: Ad agency owner booked for using pictures of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in hoardings

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: The owner of an advertising agency has been booked here for allegedly using pictures of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in its hoardings, police said on Monday.

    According to Station House Officer (SHO) Brijender Kumar Rawat, a case against the agency’s owner, Satay Parkash Reshu, was registered on Sunday under section 505(1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint by district Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Surender Singh.

    According to an FIR lodged with the police after Singh’s complaint, it was alleged that the agency’s owner had been using pictures of Bhagwat in its hoardings for advertisement.

    The complainant had asked him to remove the pictures from its hoardings but he failed to do so, they said.

    An investigation into the case is underway, police said.

  • Congress says RSS cannot talk on national issues

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s annual Dussehra address in Nagpur, Congress termed the outfit an unregistered cultural organisation.  The party also asked in what capacity does the RSS chief speak about national and international issues.

    National spokesperson of Congress Pawan Khera at a media interface on Friday said: “The RSS is a cultural organisation, still unregistered and Mohan Bhagwat is its self-proclaimed head speaking on issues the government should have spoken.”

    Replying to a media query on the RSS chief’s statements on Pakistan, China and Taliban, Khera lashed out asking, “How is RSS not different from SPICMACY and other cultural organisations? How the RSS chief’s address is streamed live while others’ are not.”

    Khera said that the RSS is by its own admission to Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel, a cultural organisation that has given in writing it will not indulge in politics. “Bhagwat says he regrets and feels pains at the partition of nation. There should also be repentance. Sanghis (referring to RSS) and the Leagues (Indian Muslim League) should also tender apologies to the people displace by partition.”

    READ HERE | RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seeks policy revamp on population

    Questioning the Centre’s silence on a viral video, released by the Chinese PLF of Galwan valley, showing an army in captivity, Khera said that the government of India should come out and state the facts.Speaking on the brutal murder of a 35-year-old person  near Delhi’s Singhu border on Friday, Khera demanded a proper investigation, saying there is no place for violence in the country.  “India is run by laws. Therefore, there is no room for violence or crime in this country. Now it is up to the government to get proper investigation done into the murder at Delhi’s Singhu border”, Khera concluded.

    Sangh procession denied nod in RajNew Delhi: In Congress-ruled Rajasthan, the government refused permission to the RSS to hold its traditional procession on the festival of Dussehra. BJP reacted sharply and alleged that the government has misused Corona guidelines as an excuse. Senior BJP leader Arun Chaturvedi said in the last few days, there were many demonstrations in Jaipur in which ministers were involved, but there was no talk of Corona. “It reflects the political thinking of the Congress government,” he said. This, Chaturvedi claimed, is injustice as RSS officials had assured they would follow Corona guidelines.

  • RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seeks policy revamp on population

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Hard Hindutva appeared on the horizon as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday pushed for revisiting the population policy, scorned at state control of temples, sought tough measures against illegal immigrants, regulation of internet-based OTT content and further “unification of J&K” with the rest of the country.

    His annual Vijayadashmi address gave a glimpse of the agenda, as the NDA government at the Centre enters its eighth year in power, while the BJP will be up against a charged Opposition to defend party ruled states in polls next year. Bhagwat argued that the population percentage of religions of Indian origin has been consistently declining as against a rising Muslim head count.

    He demanded a revamp of the population policy keeping the next 50 years in mind, adding it must be uniformly enforced across all communities and religions. Citing the situation in West Bengal and Assam, Bhagwat toughened his stance against illegal immigrants, demanding the withdrawal of the citizenship granted to some of them as also land ownership.

    Turning to the issue of temple control, Bhagwat said in the South they are mostly run by the state, though they lack proper governance, with interference by people who are “irreligious and unethical heretics”. Stressing on collectivism, which is seen as a message for the consolidation of Hindus castes, Bhagwat sought to restore the status of temples as the fulcrum of society, which can spur Hindu revivalism.

    Bhagwat saw in the targeted killings of minorities in Kashmir a clear design to stoke fear. Noting that there had been gains after the abrogation of Article 370, Bhagwat sought further integration of J&K, which is likely to be an indication for easing curbs on outsiders for settling and doing business there. Expressing anguish over the face-off between Assam and Mizoram police, he asked, “Are we not citizens of the same country?”

    Where he stands

    Temples: Hand over operating rights of Hindu temples to Hindus. Wealth of Hindu temples must be used for worship of deities and welfare of Hindu community only
    J&K: Targeted killings of national minded citizens — especially Hindus — to destroy their morale and
    re-establish a reign of terror
    Taliban: Its stance has alternated between Kashmir and peace talks. Our military must be prepared for all eventualities
    Bitcoins: Clandestine, uncontrolled currency; has potential to destabilise economy
    OTT platforms: Broadcasts unregulated; difficult to predict how it will affect society. But how anti-national forces wish to use it is wellknown

  • BSP slams RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on ‘population imbalance’ remark

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National Spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria on Friday slammed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat saying that he does not want to pay attention to real problems like hunger, unemployment and poverty.

    Reacting to the statement of the RSS chief on “Population imbalance” Bhadoria said, “Mohan Bhagwat Ji does not want to pay attention to the real problems. The real problems of the country are hunger, unemployment, poverty and malnutrition, health and education. He is ignoring them and focusing on other things.”

    “This India is becoming an unequal India. The BJP government should pay attention to this and the Sangh should also pay attention to this,” he added.

    Bhagwat, expressing concern over “population imbalance” in the country during his annual Vijaya Dashami address on Friday, said that nation’s population policy should be reconsidered.

    “News of persecution of native Hindus, growing criminalisation and mounting pressure on them to escape their areas where imbalanced population growth has surfaced. The violence that broke out following the elections of West Bengal and the pitiable condition of the Hindu people there can also be attributed to the appeasement of barbarous elements by the government and population imbalance. Therefore, a policy that is applicable to all groups in the same fashion is imperative,” Bhagwat said.

    The Vijaya Dashami address of the RSS chief is considered the most important event for the organisation as it is during this address, future plans and vision are put forth for all to follow. It is from this stage that RSS stand on many issues of national importance is known. 

  • RSS chief raises concern over Taliban, collusion of China-Pakistan

    By ANI

    NAGPUR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday showed concern over the geo-political changes in Afghanistan and questioned the intention of Taliban, Pakistan and China while adding that our military preparedness on the borders needs to be strengthened.

    In his annual Vijaya Dashami address, the RSS chief said, “We know Taliban’s history. China and Pakistan support it to this day. Even if the Taliban changed, Pakistan didn’t. Has China’s intentions towards India changed? While dialogues should happen but we need to be aware, alert and prepared.”

    “Their predisposition – passionate fanaticism, tyranny and terrorism in the name of Islam – is sufficient to make everyone apprehensive of the Taliban. But now China, Pakistan and Turkey have coalesced in an unholy coalition with the Taliban. Since Abdali, our north-western borders are once again a matter of serious concern,” said RSS chief.

    Bhagwat said that border security needs to be strengthened not just along the land border but also along the coastline where silent attacks take place.

    He said that the illegal infiltration from across the border should be completely curbed while adding that these infiltrators should be deprived of citizenship rights by creating a national citizen magazine.

    Bhagwat, who recently went to Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370, while praising the administration urged the government to take necessary measures to stop targeted killings in the valley.

    “Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir have restarted the spate of targeted killings of nationalists especially Hindus. This is being done to destroy their morale and to re-establish the reign of terror in the valley. The government should fast track its efforts to curb and neutralise the terrorist activities,” added Bhagwat.

    Bhagwat emphasised that it is India’s culture to integrate varied linguistic, religious and regional traditions and to promote mutual cooperation among all while accepting and honouring all as equal with identical opportunities for growth.

    “Our ideals are our common ancestors. It is the grasp of this very fact that the country saw martyrs like Hasankhan Mewati, Hakimkhan Suri, Khudabaksh and Gaus Khan and a revolutionary like Ashfaqullah Khan. They are admirable role models for all,” said Bhagwat.

    ALSO READ | Terrorists resorting to targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, says RSS chief

    The Vijaya Dashami address of the RSS chief is considered the most important event for the organisation as it is during his address future plans and vision are put forth for all to follow. It is from this stage that RSS stand on many issues of national importance is known.

    Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami, according to the Hindu calendar is celebrated on the 10th day after the 9 days of Navratri festivities in the month of Ashvina. 

  • Terrorists resorting to targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said terrorists were resorting to targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir to instil fear.

    Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi rally at Reshimbagh ground here, Bhagwat said military preparedness on borders needs to be increased.

    He also expressed concern over Bitcoin and OTT platforms and asked the government to take efforts to regulate these things.

    Sarsanghchalak of @RSSorg Mohan Bhagwat in his #RSSVijayaDashami speech says separatists in Jammu and Kashmir are trying to stoke fear with targetted killings.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard
    — Manish Anand (@ManishAnand_25) October 15, 2021
    “Terrorists are resorting to targeted violence in Jammu and Kashmir to instil fear,” he said.

    On October 12, five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed in an encounter in Dera Ki Gali (DKG) in Surankote area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.

    On August 19, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district.

    Bhagwat said societal consciousness is still skewed with caste-based sentiments and the RSS is working to address it.

  • RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on three-day Jharkhand trip

    By PTI

    DHANBAD: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat reached Dhanbad on Friday morning on a three-day visit to take stock of the organisation in Jharkhand.

    Bhagwat was given a rousing welcome by state BJP leaders, and ABVP and Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh activists as he reached Dhanbad from Patna on the Ganga-Damodar Express around 4.50 am.

    The organisers took him to Rajkamal Saraswati Vidyamandir guest house, the main venue for the programmes during his visit.

    The main focus of Bhagwat’s visit is to discuss with activists about spreading RSS to 1,264 mandals and 847 bastis of the state, an official of the organising committee said.

    “He holds meetings for organisation extension across the country round the year. During the visit to Dhanbad, he will hold such meetings,” he said.

    Bhagwat is scheduled to meet 40 pracharak pramukhs of Jharkhand and Bihar around 2 pm.

    On Saturday, he would meet officials and members of prantiya karyakarni.

    On Sunday, he would meet Dhanbad Mahanager RSS shakha chief teachers, shakha karyvah and milan pramukh.

    During the visit, he would also meet 100 eminent people from different fields.

  • No Muslim will face any loss due to CAA, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said the Muslims in India would not face any loss due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

    “CAA and NRC (National Register of Citizens) are not against Indian citizens. The Muslims in India are not going to suffer from any loss due to CAA,” Bhagwat said at a book release programme in Guwahati.

    According to the RSS chief, there are several methods for a country or a government to know its citizens and NRC was one of them.

    “This (NRC) is not against anybody. NRC was made a Hindu-Muslim issue but it is not. Such things happen (as some try) to gain political mileage,” Bhagwat said.

    He said it happened in every country that it tried to figure out its citizens. It is a matter of knowledge and information and it is the same in the case of people visiting another country, he said.

    “Every government in the world checks if the people, who arrived after obtaining a visa, are visiting the places they are supposed to. It also tries to find out who those people are who came without permission,” the RSS chief said.

    He said India would not have been partitioned if the views of the people were taken. He said the entire populace that fought to drive out the British had imagined the whole of “Bharat” to become one independent nation.

    “But there was division. The views of people were not taken for a consensus during partition. If their views were taken, there would never have been any partition. But the leaders decided and the public accepted it,” Bhagwat said.

    He added that due to that decision, some people lost their homes and hearth and it continued to this day.

  • No Muslim will face any loss due to the citizenship law, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is in Assam on a two-day visit, said on Wednesday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have nothing to do with Hindu-Muslim divide and communal narrative surrounding the two issues were being peddled by some to gain political mileage.

    He further emphasised that no Muslim will face any loss due to the citizenship law.

    “After independence, the first prime minister of the country had said that minorities will be taken care of, and that has been done so far. We will continue to do so. No Muslim will face any loss due to CAA,” Bhagwat said after launching a book here, titled ‘Citizenship debate over NRC and CAA-Assam and the Politics of History’.

    The citizenship law is will provide protection to persecuted minorities in the neighbouring countries, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief underlined.

    “We reach out to the majority communities, too, in these countries during a calamity… So if there are some who wish to come to our country due to threats and fear, we will definitely have to help them out,” Bhagwat said.

    Talking about NRC, he stated that all nations have the right to know who its citizens are.

    “The matter is in the political domain as the government is involved in it… A section of people wants to get political mileage by creative a communal narrative around these two issues,” he added.