NEW DELHI: Claiming that present day politics revolves around the interests of political parties than the nation, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said attaining power was an easy task, but policy making on certain principles difficult. He added that victory and defeat depend on momentary waves, issues converted into calculations for votes.
“Even if a political party decides to work on ideological and policy lines, it gets defeated by those with selfish interests. In the absence of political maturity, parties tend to play with emotions for gaining power,” he added.
Bhagwat, in an interview to RSS mouthpieces Organiser and Panchjanya, gave a suggestion to address the debate around caste-based reservations. He suggested that a committee be formed to decide which categories require reservation and for how long. “A non-political committee like autonomous commissions should be the implementation authority, (while) political authorities should supervise them for honesty and integrity,” he said.
He talked about a host of issues advocating the inclusion of the principle of “Integral Humanism” as suggested by ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, whose birth centenary falls on September 25. His views also assume significance as the RSS had earlier in September held a meeting with the BJP and government in which PM Narendra Modi and senior ministers participated, to suggest policy changes.
“It is clearly evident that the nature and conduct of present day politics is not in tune with the principles of Integral Humanism. Presently, politics is not for the nation, not for the last man standing, but revolving around the interests of political parties… Attaining power is an easy task, but policy making on certain principles is difficult.”
“Society thinks on the same lines, as people also evaluate political parties and politicians on electoral victory and defeat and not what they do after the victory or defeat,” he said adding politics thus has become a race for attaining power. He advocated that the political system cannot be changed by only those in power. “If voters come out of petty interests, forgoing individual, caste or community interests in larger national interest, only then will the situation change. Then, political parties will also have to follow the rule. If real political reforms take place, then things can change.” Talking about political change, he argued that people do vote for change when the situation becomes unbearable for them but only consistent and stable political maturity of the society can transform the system.
On whether a change in government would mark the beginning of a new era and end of appeasement politics, Bhagwat said, “...merely a change of guard is not going to change the overall situation. If only one party tries to do that then there will always be doubt about how far they can go. If appeasement policies are followed, then how far they can go, I am not sure. Social awakening is necessary for this.”
Ultimately, people get the government they deserve, he added.