Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Mohan Bhagwat stressed the need for a “comprehensive policy of population control” that applies to all “equally”, and added that he was in the national interest to keep an eye on the “demographic imbalance”. He also said that when efforts are made to divide society, “we must stick together”, alluding to Hindu-Muslim unity.
“There should be a comprehensive population control policy, which should apply to everyone equally, and once it is implemented, no one should get concessions,” Bhagwat said during the talk. his speech. Vijayadashmi’s annual speech at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur Wednesday.
The demographic imbalance led to the division of countries and the main reason was conversion, he said. “When there was an imbalance (of population) 50 years ago, we suffered serious consequences. It didn’t just happen to us. Today, new countries such as the East Timor, South Sudan and Kosovo were created. So when there is a demographic imbalance, new countries are created. Countries are divided,” he said.
The birth rate is just one of many factors in this imbalance and “conversion through force and attraction” is the most important factor, he said, adding that “the infiltration of the ‘other side of the border’ is also responsible. In the national interest, it is imperative to keep an eye on this imbalance, Bhagwat said.
“To ensure that society accepts the policy of population control, it must be brought about with determination. If the society does not accept it, then the policy will not work,” Bhagwat added.
However, Bhagwat warned against excessive population control measures similar to those adopted by China. “We proposed a (population control) policy a few years ago. He (fertility rate) was 2.1. We did better than expected and got down to 2. But going any lower could be detrimental. Children learn social behavior in the family and for that you need numbers in the family. You need people your own age, you need older people for you, also younger ones. When the population stops growing, societies disappear, languages disappear,” he said.
The RSS leader said India could benefit from its predominantly young population, but the country needs to plan how it will manage resources when that population ages in 50 years.
Bhagwat warned the youths against demanding government jobs all the time and urged the society to develop an aptitude for entrepreneurship and self-employment.
“RSS will continue the conversation with minority communities”
The RSS leader said conservatism and external forces were the main obstacles to India’s progress. “The first obstacle is ourselves. It comes from conservatism. Times change, and so does human understanding and intelligence. We must move forward accordingly. But conservatism is trying to stop that. The idea is not to leave our core values, but to develop them according to the times,” Bhagwat said.
“The second obstacle comes from outside. These are forces hostile to India’s progress; those who do not want brotherhood and harmony in Indian society. To serve their interests, they spread misinformation. They try to instill hatred in our hearts. They try to divide us… To give them space, they try to get closer to us. On behalf of caste, community and even their interests, they come to us as sympathizers. We don’t have to fall into their trap. We must oppose this anti-national activity rising above our personal interests. We will have to join in all efforts by the administration to neutralize them,” Bhagwat said.
The RSS leader contacted the Muslim community saying that misinformation had been spread about the Sangh and it was only meant to defend the nation against terrorist forces.
“We don’t want to conquer others. We just don’t want to be conquered and so we seek strength. … But people are scared,’Arey Sangh Wale Marenge (the RSS people will beat us up), the Hindu Sangathan will expel everyone”. This misinformation has spread. Because of this fear, some members of the minority community have met with us in recent years. We also meet people from the (minority) community,” Bhagwat said, adding that the RSS will continue this conservation.
Speaking about the recent brutal killings of two people in Udaipur and Amaravati by suspected Muslim radicals, Bhagwat said people from all communities, not just Hindus, must condemn such attacks.
“It doesn’t always happen, but this time it was opposed by prominent figures, even from the Muslim community. Called anti-Islamic. This shouldn’t be an exception. All societies must speak out,” he said.
He also warned against provocative speeches. “Even staying within the bounds of the law and the constitution, one must hold protests in a way that does not hurt others or create division in society. No one is shraddha (faith) should be hurt,” Bhagwat said.
RSS leader calls for increased participation of women in all spheres of life
The event was notable for the presence of a main guest: mountaineer and former Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer Santosh Yadav. The Sangh has been criticized for long remaining a male-dominated organization.
“If all of society is to be organized, then 50% of it is maternal power. It cannot be ignored. We need to strengthen them (women). We call them mothers. We imagine them as Jagat Janani (creators of the universe). But by imagining these things, I don’t know what has crept into us so that we limit their sphere of activity. And later, when foreign invaders arrived, these restrictions gained legitimacy. The invaders left but we continued with the restrictions. We never released them,” Bhagwat said.
“We imagine them as creators of universes, that’s good. But keeping them locked in the prayer room is not good. Either we lock them in the prayer room or we call them second class and lock them in the house. We must empower them by giving them equal rights in the domestic and public sphere and independence in decision-making. Until the equal participation of women is ensured, efforts aimed at the progress of the country will not be successful,” he added.
Bhagwat played down the perception that RSS is male-dominated. “The presence of women who have been successful, intelligentsia and inspirational in RSS functions has been a norm in the Sangh since the days of Dr. Saab (Dr. KB Hedgewar). Anusuiyabai Kale was present at our event at that time. So the head of the Indian Women’s Conference, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was also part of our chivir. Also in December 1934, the main guest was a woman,” he says.