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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several...

‘Bharat Ratna to Savarkar will increase its prestige’

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday threw his full weight behind the long-standing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, asserting that the Hindutva ideologue’s inclusion would enhance the dignity of the country’s highest civilian honour. Bhagwat, who explained the genesis and growth of the RSS over past 100 years in two lectures at the Nehru Centre here on Saturday and Sunday, replied to several questions. While replying to one of the questions, he remarked, “If Swatantraveer Savarkar is given the Bharat Ratna, the prestige of the Bharat Ratna itself will increase.” He was asked, why there has been a delay in conferring the Bharat Ratna on Savarkar, in reply to which, Bhagwat said, “I am not part of that committee. But if I meet someone, I will ask. Even without that honour, he rules the hearts of millions of people.” he added. Social Divisions Bhagwat replied to questions that were clubbed in 14 different groups ranging from national security to environment, social harmony, youth, arts and sports. Whenever the questions suggested or expressed expectations that the RSS should do certain things, Bhagwat stressed on the involvement of the society and initiative from the society in resolving the problems. While addressing the critical issue of Uniform Civil Code, Bhagwat stated that the UCC should be framed by taking everyone into confidence and must not lead to social divisions. In the same way while replying to the question related to illegal migrants in the country, Bhagwat urged people to “detect and report” the “illegal infiltrators” to the police. He also urged people not to give them any employment and to be more “vigilant.” Backing SIR He highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has already revealed the “foreigners” living in the country. “The government has a lot to do regarding infiltration. They have to detect and deport. This wasn’t happening until now, but it has started little by little, and it will gradually increase. When the census or the SIR is conducted, many people come to light who are not citizens of this country; they are automatically excluded from the process,” he said. “But we can do one thing: we can work on detection. Their language gives them away. We should detect them and report them to the appropriate authorities. We should inform the police that we suspect these people are foreigners, and they should investigate and keep an eye on them, and we will also keep an eye on them. We will not give employment to any foreigner. If someone is from our country, we will give them employment, but not to foreigners. You should be a little more vigilant and aware,” he added. SC Chief Emphasising the inclusivity of the Sangh, he said that anyone can become ‘Sarsanghchalak’ (RSS chief), including the SC and STs, as the decision is solely dependent on the work that any individual put for the organisation. “Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra or Brahmin does not qualify for the Sarsanghchalak position (RSS Chief), a Hindu will become the one who works and is best available. A Hindu will become, and that can also be an SC or ST. Anyone can become it depends on the work. Today, if you see, all classes have representation in the Sangh. The decision is taken on the basis of one who works and is best available,” he said. He pointed out that when the RSS was founded, its work began in a Brahmin-dominated community and hence, most of its founders were Brahmins, which led to the organisation being labelled as a Brahmin outfit at the time. People always look for an organisation that has representatives from their community, he said. “If I were to choose a chief, I would go by the ‘best available candidate’ criterion. When I was appointed RSS chief, there were many best candidates, but they were not available. I was the one who could be relieved from duties and appointed,” he said. He said that to belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities is not a disqualification, and neither is being a Brahmin a qualification to become the RSS chief. Ready to step down if Sangh asks for Dr. Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh had asked him to continue working despite his age, while stressing that he would step down from the post whenever the organisation directs him to do so. “There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief. Generally, it is said that after turning 75, one should work without holding any post,” Bhagwat said. “I have completed 75 years and informed the RSS, but the organisation asked me to continue working. Whenever the RSS asks me to step down, I will do so, but retirement from work will never happen,” he said.

BJP Slams Congress Over Muslim Quota, Vows to Protest in Legislature in Karnataka

Updated: Mar 20, 2025

BJP questions 4% Muslim reservation in govt contracts, accuses Congress of appeasement




Muslim Quota

Bengaluru: The BJP on Monday announced protests both inside the legislature and across the state, condemning the Karnataka government's decision to grant 4 per cent quota to Muslims in government tenders.

The BJP has also declared that it won’t allow the Congress-led Karnataka government to implement the Muslim quota in tenders.


Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, made the announcement.

He stated, "Muslim appeasement is taking place on a larger scale in the state. Reservation is meant to uplift Dalits. The Constitution does not allow reservations for everyone."


He further alleged that the constitutional rights of Dalits were being taken away and given to Muslims solely for electoral gains.


"The Congress-led government has violated the Constitution by providing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims. There is no provision for religion-based reservation in the Constitution," Ashoka added.


Criticising Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashoka said, "He wears a skull cap, introduced Tipu Jayanti, and allocated Rs 10,000 crore for Mullahs in this year’s budget. Now, he is fulfilling all their demands by granting 4 per cent reservation to Muslims. This is unfortunate. We will protest both inside the legislature and across the state."


"BJP’s central leaders have already stated that this 4 per cent reservation for Muslims is unconstitutional," he reiterated.


State BJP President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, stated in Bengaluru that the Karnataka government has not only decided to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government tenders but has also passed it in a Cabinet meeting and is preparing to introduce a Bill on this in the legislature.

"The BJP will strongly oppose this Bill," he affirmed.


"Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, has challenged us, saying that if we have the capability, we should make Muslims MLCs and Rajya Sabha members. I want to remind him that it was the BJP that made the late Dr. Abdul Kalam the President. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, Najma Heptulla was appointed as a Governor.


“Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Arif Mohammad Khan were also given the position of Governor. Ustad Bismillah Khan was conferred the Bharat Ratna, not by the Congress, but during Modi’s tenure," Vijayendra said.

He further questioned, "A former Dalit Congress MLA, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s house was burned down by Muslim goons. If the Congress is ready to go to any extent to keep Muslims happy, then what about the poor among other communities?"


"If you are providing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts, have the poor among Hindus committed a sin that they are not being considered? The BJP’s stand is clear. When the Bill is introduced in the legislature today, the BJP will protest both inside and outside the House. We will not allow its implementation," he asserted.

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