Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 2, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7207253.cms?prtpage=1
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan
Bhagwat has strongly criticised the tendencies among the Congress-led dispensation
at the centre for targeting the Sangh by associating it with terrorism to
divert public attention from corruption and scams.
"Those ruling the country find it convenient
to make a scapegoat out of the RSS when they are themselves unable to deal
with a situation of their own making," Bhagwat said at the concluding
ceremony of the fifth Vishwa Sangh Shivir 2010 a grand conclave that is organised
after every five years by the Sangh's international arm, the Hind Swayamsevak
Sangh (HSS) at Balewadi here on Sunday.
The HSS has a network of 750 shakhas' (branches)
in 35 countries including the US, UK, France and the Scandinavian countries.
Over 517 HSS activists from these countries participated in the five-day international
conclave, which focused on Hinduism, the Sangh and its social work, the youth
and promotion of cultural studies, among other issues.
Bhagwat also called upon Hindus in India to
organise themselves in a way that they are viewed as model citizens by Hindus
settled abroad. "Unless the Hindus in India are respected, how can we
expect the Hindus across the world to be respected?" he asked.
According to Bhagwat, "A Hindu can never harm any person from another
religion. Even the most illiterate of Hindus knows this, because it is ingrained
in his/her culture. Unfortunately, we have to keep reminding this, off late,
because of the selfish strategies of leaders from our own country to paint
the Hindus in a bad picture in an attempt to stick to power."
He said, "Hindu and terrorism are two
contradictory words. Even people in Pakistan haven't dared so far to make
any reference about Hindu Terrorism', but leaders in our own country are coining
new terms every other moment, talking about saffron terrorism' and more recently
majority terrorism'. Why bring a bad name to our own people?"
Bhagwat said, "Equating a couple of incidents
here and there with the sort of activities normally associated with terror
outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and involving the Sangh's name has become a convenient
ruse. Whereas, the fact remains that the ruling alliance fears the growing
mass base of the values promoted by the Sangh. Every time, they see a threat
to their power, the RSS bogey is raised."
"Martyrs are being humiliated in our
own country and our own leaders are bent on reducing India's stature internationally,"
said Bhagwat. "It is often the case that the evil person always desires
to test the tolerance of the good human being, unmindful of the fact that
there will be consequences at some point of time," he said.
Earlier, industrialist Abhay Firodia, who
presided over the ceremony, spoke about the need for people to build apt pressure
against corruption and scams and seek greater transparency in public life.
Shankarrao Tatwavadi, who heads the HSS international
activities, provided an overview about the HSS work. Senior Sangh leaders
including Madan Das Devi, former RSS chief K S Sudarshan, Rashtriya Sevika
Samiti head Pramiltai Medhe, Bajranglal Gupta, RSS Pune city chief Mohan Ghaisas
were among those present.
