RSS Advocates Hindu Unity, Supports 'Batengey Toh Katengey' Sentiment

Mathura: Hindu unity is essential for everyone's good and re is a need to be vigilant against forces that seek to divide in name of religion, caste and ideology, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Saturday virtually endorsing "batengey toh katengey (divided we fall)" remark by Uttar Presh Chief Minister Yogi ityanath .

"If we discriminate/divide on basis of language, state, upper and backward castes, n we will be decimated (Hum jaati, bhasha, prant agla-pitchda bhed se hum karengey toh hum katengey)," leer of BJP 's ideological fountainhe told reporters on second and concluding day of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's national meet here.

He was asked about 'batengey toh katengey' slogan given by ityanath and subsequently flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Thane, Maharashtra on October 5.

Hosabale stressed that while statement itself is not focus, spirit behind it is significant.

" issue is of Hindu unity. In fact, we often say that those who forget Hindu thought invite disaster, lose ir family, land and places of worship. spirit is same. issue is unity in society. (Samaj ekatmata se nahi rahega toh .. itihaas kehta hai.. hum to kehte hain jab jab Hindu bhaav ko bhoole aayi vipa mahaan bhai tootey dharti khoi mitey dharma sansthan .. yeh hamara geet hai ... toh usko aajkal ki bhasha main aisa aapne jo kaha ho sakta hai. Mudda kya hain. Samaj ki ekta," RSS leer said.

Asserting that unity is essential for any nation, he said mere speeches are insufficient and real efforts are required to foster it.

"We have to inculcate it in our behaviour. good thing is that many religious and or organisations are now understanding this and supporting it. Hindu unity is RSS' pledge," he said, ding Sangh reflects voice of society.

"Hindu unity is for everyone's good, for global happiness and peace. Hindu unity is important to ensure our protection and for world harmony. That is why we back Hindu unity and re are no two views on this," he said.

RSS veteran cautioned that re were "forces" working to "divide Hindus" on religious and caste lines.

"Some forces seek to divide in name of religion and caste, ideology and or ways so we have to be vigilant against m," he said.

On October 5, Prime Minister Modi also flagged issue of Hindu unity at a rally in Thane, Maharashtra where he said, "Agar hum batenge, toh bantney waley mehfil sajaayenge (if we are divided, n those who seek to do so would celebrate)." Regarding dispute of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah in Mathura, he said that this issue is currently pending in court. "We hope that court resolves this issue soon," he said and ded that re is no need to do anything like Ayodhya in this matter and people should have faith in judiciary.

"Many people have raised ir voice and re is a public awakening in Hindu society at national level on issue. Sangh is not separate from m, it is with society," he ded.

On questions related to Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Hosabale said issue is not related to any one party or community and a joint committee of parliament is in process of hearing views of all religions and classes.

" fact is that some such amendments were me in Waqf Act earlier in 2013 which me it an independent entity in India. Even district magistrate or any or competent officer could not interfere in that matter," he said.

He said, "All this did not happen just like that. Earlier, an attempt was me to bring a similar bill on targeted violence. Many problems have arisen due to such things. All this was done as per a plan under a special conspiracy, which has to be corrected".

Hosabale said, "It is not just that only Hindus are against this bill. truth is that many people from Muslim community have also presented ir problems before JPC." He said, "y are communities which are troubled by excesses, exploitation and injustice of Waqf. That is why y are also objecting." " truth is that this is not an issue of any one party or community,'' RSS leer said.

Asked about meeting between ityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he said that chief minister h mainly come to discuss upcoming Kumbh in Prayagraj.

"He (ityanath) said that efforts will be me to make this year's Kumbh more 'saarthak' (meaningful) and 'yashasvi' (successful) than last time. He also presented plans prepared for this to Sangh officials," RSS general secretary said.

Hosabale said that main request of chief minister was to encourage people from tribal society and ir religious leers to attend Kumbh as due to some reasons y are not able to reach in numbers in which y should be represented.

He requested that RSS also extend invitation to m so that all sections of society can participate in this sacred work, Hosabale ded.

"He remarked that Kumbh is not only a religious event but a national celebration that showcases country's cultural unity," Hosabale said.

On reports claiming a tussle between RSS and BJP after a statement by BJP national president on Sangh during Lok Sabha elections, he said, "We are a public organisation. We have no tussle with any party, let alone BJP, because we do not think anything like that. We meet everyone. We do not discriminate against anyone." He also said, "Why should we hate? On contrary, I have only this much to say that those who want to run a shop of love ('mohabbat kee dukaan') in market of hatred ('nafrat kee baazaar'), do not want to meet us at all." To a query on concerns about "verse effect" on new generation from content coming on independent platforms like social media and OTT, he said that government should make arrangements for regulation in this matter.

Due to freedom of expression, everyone has access to films and or mediums "from classroom to bedroom which is wrong",he said.

In this matter, government should make arrangements after consultation with society, he said.

"I do not say that control ('niyantran') should be re, but regulation ('niyaman') must be done so that re is no verse effect on society," he said.

He said government has to play its role in preventing drug use among youths.

"It is our responsibility and responsibility of family to not let such habits develop in children. For this, y have to inculcate good values. An environment should be created for m in society. Sangh promotes this work and fulfils this responsibility with insistence," he said.

On issues like religious conversion and love jih, Hosabale said that Sangh does not directly intervene in such matters.

Organisations like Hindu Jagran Manch and Bajrang Dal look into se. "We think about reasons for growth of such incidents and work to eliminate m," he said.

Citing an example, he said that after an incident in Kerala , "200 girls returned. But problem for m was how society would accept m".

"How would y move forward in life, etc? n Sangh came forward and got m rehabilitated by supporting an organisation. Some of m even took a vow that in future y will work to save or girls from love jih for rest of ir lives. Sangh gives m support through education and training," he said.

He said outcome of RSS' Pratinidhi Sabha held in March this year was reviewed at meeting here.

Sangh has completed 99 years this year and entered its centenary year. "It was discussed how to organise programmes on Vijayashmi next year," he said.

"We will go to people with idea of Panch Parivartan -- self-dependent lifestyle ('swa-ahaarit jeevan shailee'), social harmony, family enlightenment ('kutumb prabodhan'), environment and civic duty," he said.

Hosable also informed that in terms of expansion of RSS' work, 72,354 'shakhaas' are running at 45,411 places. Compared to last year, 3,626 places and 6,645 'shakhas' have increased.

Similarly, number of weekly meetings was 29,369, which has increased by 3,147 annually.

He informed 750 places have been ded to Sangh Mandals. Such expansion will be done in a total of 1,13,105 places before meeting of Pratinidhi Sabha to be held in Bengaluru next year.

He also cited examples of social work undertaken by Sangh workers in past years including assistance provided during natural calamities in states like West Bengal, Bihar , Gujarat , Odisha , Karnataka and Kerala.

(Except for heline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)