Edited excerpts from an interview with Manmohan Vaidya, akhil-Bharatiya prachar pramukh (chief of publicity), RSS:
On the perception that RSS is a Brahmin-led organisation
It is a wrong impression, a politically motivated allegation. People associated with the Sangh do not think and feel so. We have all sections of Hindu society leading the RSS movement at different levels — from the grassroots to national. When we say that we want to organise the Hindu society, it includes everybody, including the Scheduled Castes. The RSS has worked towards this goal since its inception. Since 1983, special emphasis was given to enhance harmony, samarasata, within the Hindu society by devising initiatives and creating platforms to increase the interaction between the Scheduled Castes and others, to strengthen the bond of oneness.
On farmer distress and the recent deaths in police firing
Farmer suicides are unfortunate and a result of decades of gross neglect by ruling parties and their flawed policies. It needs a focused and holistic intervention and this will take some time. The present government is working towards this and we are confident things will improve.
On violence by gau rakshaks
No one should take the law into one’s hands. They can work as vigilante groups to help the government implement the rule of law.
On three years of BJP rule
It is not our job to assess the performance of the government. Our job is character-building and nation-building.
On whether the BJP-led government is doing enough to spread the Sangh ideology
The Sangh does not work through state power nor for state power. We work directly in the society, for the society and with the support of the society. The BJP has its own goals. They should try to implement their manifesto. Swayamsevaks work in all spheres of life through various organisations. To improve coordination, we have “sampark adhikari” for each organisation, BJP being one of them.
On secularism
We have no problem with secularism per se but it has been misused in Bharat to foment communal forces. Anyone claiming to be a die-hard secularist is seen behaving like a die-hard communal person. In Bharat, for ages, the state has always been secular, treating all religions equally.
On whether Article 370 should be scrapped in Kashmir
The Constitution itself states Article 370 is a ‘temporary and transient provision’ for J&K. It should be relooked at and assessed — whether J&K has benefited from this provision and if it needs to be continued. But an objective re-look is being opposed by vested interests, and this is worrisome.
On caste-based reservations
Unfortunately, a section of the Hindu society was deprived because of caste. They need affirmative actions like reservation to empower them and bring them at par with the rest.
On Rahul Gandhi studying Upanishads and the Gita
It is important to read the Gita and Upanishads to understand Bharat. It is good that of late Rahul Gandhi has felt the need to read the ancient scriptures. We are happy that the RSS has provoked him to read the great scriptures of Bharat. One should always understand Bharat before speaking about Bharat.
Courtesy: Economic Times
