NEW DELHI: Prime Minster Narendra Modi assured the RSS that his government would strive to take the benefits of development right up to the last person. He expressed confidence that last 15-months in power has shown them that they can deliver.
Modi participated in the three-day coordination meet between the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which came to an end on Friday.
Prime Minister addressed the gathering of over Sangh cadre in presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and BJP chief Amit Shah. He said everyone will have to work together so that initiatives taken by government reach out to people at. He also thanked the Sangh for the valuable suggestions.
Delivering the concluding address, Bhagwat said such meetings should keep happening as new ideas can be shared between the government and the RSS cadre who work on the ground.
“The Modi government was in the right direction and had commitment. One cannot be 100 percent satisfaction, but the government is on the right track,” RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said briefing the reporters after the meeting.
He added that the meeting was not a review meeting but for exchange of ideas between the Sangh cadre and the government which touched upon host of issues primarily on internal security including naxalism, Kashmir, religious census, OROP, swadeshi model for economic development.
Over 93 senior functionaries of the 15 RSS affiliated bodies along with senior Sangh leaders, BJP office bearers, over a dozen cabinet ministers attended various sessions spread over three days.
Sangh workers told government that it should also look at the Indian economic model for development where not only environment is saved but also ensures development. “There are three reasons which leads to migration from villages –kamai, padhai aur diwai (job, studies and health care). The economic model should be such that they rural life be improved.”
“Western models of development have failed and they are themselves looking for new models, he said. The country's economy should be based on Indian thinking, identity and conduct. Like what Nanaji Deshmukh did is one example,” Hosabale said.
To the contention issues of building a Ram Temple and recent religious census, Hosable said RSS would wait for construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as per government's time-table as the issue was pending before the Supreme Court.
“BJP has stated in its manifesto it will move towards it and there is time for it
and the party has set its time table. Sants and Hindu society keep giving directions in this regard, but Sangh does not raise any demand..We are hopeful that it will happen. We will wait for their implementation according to their timetable," he said.
“The issue of religious census was serious for which a three-member panel has been formed to study it and submit its report. It will be taken up in next RSS meeting in Ranchi (in October-November),” the RSS leader added.
"For the first time in the history of the country, this government has raised the expectations as also the confidence it has created not only in India but also
outside. That is the most welcome thing that is the assurance that this government has definitely given."
Discussions on Internal security figured majorly in these sessions as a subject dear to the RSS workers. India’s ties with neighbours and the need to strengthen them further as India was part of SAARC.
Hosabale said Pakistan and Bangladesh were earlier part of India and there was need to improve relations as they were part of the family and had cultural ties with each other that were linked with history. We should improve relations forgetting irritants, he said.
Asked if ties can be improved in the wake of provocations by Pakistan, Hosabale said all this needs to be done for peace and cited the example of Kauravas and Pandavas who were brothers who also had to talk
Education was another issue which came under discussion. "Education must be geographically accessible, financially affordable and socially inclusive," Hosabale said adding that commercial of education was a cause of concern.
The RSS wanted that the education needs to be Indianised and there was need to inculcate it along with modern education, besides evolving character-building education.
With the Congress criticising the government for getting policy inputs from Sangh, and even violating the oath of secrecy by reporting to the RSS, the RSS said the Congress government which was remote controlled has no right to say so.
"We are not an illegal organisation. We are also citizens of the country. We have every right to ask ministers, who are also swayamsevaks. Where is the question of secrecy. Swayamsevaks have become ministers," Hosable said when asked if secrecy was violated by ministers in talking to RSS.