Mohan Bhagwat flagged a number of issues like illegal immigrants, cow vigilantism, situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the economic scenario in his Vijayadashmi address.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday asked the Centre to keep national security in mind while taking a decision on Rohingyas and alleged that they were driven out of Myanmar mainly due to their violent separatist activities and links with terror groups.
In his over-an-hour-long Vijayadashmi address from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters, Bhagwat flagged a number of issues like illegal immigrants, cow vigilantism, situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the economic scenario.
He accused the Kerala and West Bengal governments of lending a “helping hand to anti-national for forces for petty political interest”.
Bhagwat called for necessary constitutional amendments for complete assimilation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
He also praised the Centre over the handling of the Doklam issue with China.
Bhagwat said, “We have been facing the problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and now Rohingyas have infiltrated into our country.”
“Rohingyas, who were chased away from Myanmar, have infiltrated into the country and many more are ready to migrate illegally. They are being driven out of Myanmar mainly due to their continuous violent and criminal separatists activities and links with the terrorist groups,” he said.
Giving shelter to Rohingyas will not only put pressure on our jobs, but also pose a threat to national security, he said.
“Any decision regarding Rohingyas should be taken keeping in mind the threat to national security... Any decision regarding them should be taken keeping in mind that they will definitely be a threat to national security and integrity,” the RSS chief added
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani and Union minister Nitin Gadkari were present on the occasion. Dalit religious leader Baba Nirmal Das, who was expected to be the chief guest, could not attend the event as he was indisposed. His message was read out at the event.
Referring to the issue of cow vigilantism, Bhagwat said “it is reprehensible that some some people have been killed allegedly by gau rakshaks”.
“At the same time, many people have been killed by cow smugglers,” he said.
Bhagwat said the issue of cow protection is beyond religion and “many Muslims have sacrificed their life for protection of the cow just as people of Bajrang Dal have”.
He noted that problems of the people, who were displaced from the KashmirValley in 1990s, are yet to be addressed.
“Necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed in that state. Only when the constitutional amendments are done, can the residents of Jammu and Kashmir be completely assimilated with the rest of India,” Bhagwat said, apparently hinting at Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
There is an urgent need to take the benefits of development to the masses in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Jammu and Ladakh regions, without any discrimination and through transparent and clean governance, he said.
“The problem of refugees is still not resolved in the state. For decades together, their generations are living in a miserable state as refugees for their decision to be in Bharat and remain as Hindu.
“Despite being the citizens of Bharat, they still don’t have basic facilities of education, employment and democratic rights,” Bhagwat said.
“The problems of permanent residents of the state, who migrated from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 1947 and the people who were displaced from KashmirValley in 1990 remain as they were,” he said.
Bhagwat said conditions should be created “so that our brothers can lead a happy, dignified and secure life like other Indians, by ensuring them equal democratic rights, even while remaining firm and devoted to their religion and national identity”.
“And for this just work, necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed. Then and only then, the residents of Jammu and Kashmir can be completely assimilated with the rest of India and their equal cooperation and share will be possible in the national progress,” Bhagwat said.
Coming out in support of the citizens living in border areas, who are “bravely and persistently holding ground amid incessant cross border firing and terrorists infiltration”, he called for relief and assistance for them from the government, administration and different social groups.
On the Doklam standoff, Bhagwat said, “In response to the activities of Pakistan on the western front and of China on the northern front, India’s strong and determined stand has been visible in the incidents like Doklam on the borders as well as in international diplomacy.
“It definitely makes us realise about our strength and at the same time provides new international standing to India.”
Targeting Kerala and West Bengal governments for not doing enough against anti-national forces, he said, “The situation in Bengal and Kerala is known to all.
“The state governments and their systematically politicised administrative systems are not only apathetic to this serious national crisis, but are also lending helping hand to anti-national for forces for petty political interests.”
“The information of these anti-national activities reaches the Union government and they must take necessary steps to foil these nefarious designs,” he said.
On the economic situation, the RSS chief said that the interests of small, medium industries and self-employed businesses should be protected as they make the “biggest contribution” to the economy.
Bhagwat offered condolences to the victims of the stampede in Mumbai on Friday.
“We all empathise with the families of our brethren who have lost their lives and those who have got injured in yesterday’s incident at Mumbai,” he said.
