RSS Chief's Warning Against Attempts To Get Votes By "Inflaming Emotions"

Questioning if forces from across the border were behind the violence in Manipur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today "strong political will" was required to check the violence in the Northeastern state. In his annual Vijayadashami address at RSS Dussehra rally in Nagpur, Mr Bhagwat asked, "How did this mutual discord and hatred suddenly erupt in Manipur, which had been peaceful for almost a decade? Were there extremists from across the border also among those who committed violence? Why, and by whom, was an attempt made to give a communal tinge to this mutual conflict between the Manipuri Meitei and Kuki communities, who were apprehensive about the future of their existence?"

The RSS chief said there is a need to abide by the Constitution despite provocations. "It is not advisable to get caught up or swayed by inflammatory propaganda carried out using the media, and the volley of allegations and counter-allegations that follows. The media should be used to propagate truth and harmony in the society," he said.

The solution to violence is a society taking an initiative to protect law and order and to support to the government and the administration.

Speaking on the Lok Sabha elections next year, Mr Bhagwat said, "Attempts to harvest votes by inflaming emotions are not desirable, but they still keep happening. Let us avoid these things, as they hurt the unity of the society."

He called upon the people to cast their votes "keeping in mind the vital issues of unity, integrity, identity and development of the country".

The RSS chief said "selfish, discriminatory and deceitful forces" wear the mask of "some ideology or the other" and claim to be working for "lofty goals". "These destructive, all-devouring forces call themselves cultural Marxists or Woke, or the awakened ones. But they have forgotten Marx since the 1920s. They are opposed to all orderliness and morality, beneficence, culture, dignity and restraint in the world," he said.

"Their modus operandi involve taking control of the media and academia, and plunging education, culture, politics and social environment into confusion, chaos, and corruption," Mr Bhagwat added.

The RSS chief said people should mark the consecration of Ram Lalla at the grand temple at Ayodhya on January 22 by organising small events at their homes.

Mr Bharat said a "lifestyle out of sync with nature" is producing new physical and mental health issues. "Families are breaking apart, as a sense of individualism deepens in the society. Pollution, global warming, imbalance in seasonal cycles and the resultant natural disasters are increasing every year as a result of unreasonable exploitation of natural resources. Terrorism, exploitation, and totalitarianism are getting a free run to wreak havoc," he said.

Connecting this with natural disasters, he said, "For instance, we recently witnessed a series of devastating natural disasters in the Himalayan region, from Himachal and Uttarakhand to Sikkim. It is already being feared that these events could be a sign of some serious and massive crisis in the future."

The RSS chief flagged "arbitrary development plans" that were implemented without understanding the nature and characteristics of its surface, topography, geology, biodiversity and water resources.

"As a result of this mess, this region and, hence, the entire country is reaching the brink of crisis... Although these incidents of natural disasters are occurring more in the Himalayan region, they hold a clear message for the entire country. Due to the development trajectories based on inadequate, excessively materialistic and consumerist vision, humanity and nature are slowly but surely moving towards destruction," he said.