The much-followed three-day Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that began in Kerala’s Palakkad on Saturday ended on Monday with the influential body, seen as the soul of the BJP, taking up important issues like the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkatta, the natural tragedy at Wayanad, caste related developments, the forcible removal of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina from Bangladesh and the atrocities against minorities and Hindus apart from religious conversion in Tamil Nadu.
The RSS also stated that it was not against caste census but it should not be used as a political tool and that it was concerned about the unity and the cohesion within the society on caste related issues Similarly, it said that it has always supported reservation provided by the Constitution and while referring to the recent Supreme Court judgment that stated that states have a right to sub-classify Scheduled Castes notified in the Presidential List with an objective to provide them ”more” preferential treatment in public, the RSS said that if anything has to done it should only be done through ‘consensus’ while keeping the interests and the sentiments of the people at the fore.
Significantly, RSS publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar made it clear that the body was not in support of imposing of President’s rule in West Bengal while stating that it was a government’s call but reiterating that it was not a democraticway to destabilise the government nor this was an era (for such steps). A section within the BJP supporters have been pressurizing Delhi to impose President’s rule in the state. The RSS said that it had got reports of missionary conversion happening in Tamil Nadu while terming it ‘worrisome’. Ambekar said that a detailed report will be prepared on it. The body will be celebrating the Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s 300th birth anniversary and the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgavati’s Reign while recognizing their legacy and contributions to Indian heritage.
Speaking on the disturbance in Manipur, Ambekar said that RSS was concerned about Manipur issues and that it was watching it and that it had asked the government to take steps so that peace comes in the state and the conflicts are resolved as soon as possible. While commenting on the reports of differences between the RSS and the BJP, Ambekar said that ‘family issues’ and functional issues are dealt with mechanisms that are in place for a long time.
On the situation in Bangladesh, the RSS leaders and functionaries spokeand discussed about the condition of minorities and Hindus and asked the government to take it up at various levels. A detailed report was presented on the said topic in the meeting.
Speaking about the horrific rape in Kolkata, Ambekar said that the RSS had taken it very seriously and urgent steps need to be taken to stop such crime for which it was going to work on five fronts- legally so that justice delivery does not take time, creation of awareness in the society and the importance of ‘sanskara’ (cultural and moral values) , education against such incidents both at formal and informal level, self protection for women and the kind of content that was available on media platform which Ambekar said was encouraging such crimes.
The delegates in the meeting discussed the issue of women safety prominently including how to stop such incidents, the role of government in stopping such crime and how legal provisions can be made to ensure justice delivery does not take time.
The body, this year, did 472 conferences involving the participation of more than 5.75 lakh women on the issue of their participation in local development activities and the role and importance of women in Indian philosophy. Thirty two women delegates participated in the meeting at Palakkad. Detailed discussion and presentation was also done on the natural calamity at Wayanad , focusing on why it happened and how such incidents should be stopped.
According to the functionaries , 32 national office-bearers of various organisations working for social transformation inspired by the RSS’ ideology participated in the meeting. It was the first time that the RSS is holding its annual national coordination conclave in Kerala.
Ninety all India karyakartas in charge of the Sangh and 230 representatives including RSS Sarsangchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryawah Dattatreya Hosabale and Deputy Sarkaryawahs Krishnagopal, Mukunda C R, Arun Kumar, Alok Kumar, Ramdat Chakradhar and Atul Limaye participated in the conclave. Outgoing BJP chief JP Nadda too participated in the meeting.