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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhagwat bats for culture over politics

Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, RSS during the lecture on the occasion of the centenary year of RSS at Nehru Centre Auditorium in Worli on Saturday. | Pic Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: On the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh its present (6 th ) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat termed the RSS as a civilizational movement dedicated to serving humanity, cultural unity and social organization rather than power, protest or politics. Addressing a centennial lecture series before a...

Bhagwat bats for culture over politics

Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, RSS during the lecture on the occasion of the centenary year of RSS at Nehru Centre Auditorium in Worli on Saturday. | Pic Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: On the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh its present (6 th ) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat termed the RSS as a civilizational movement dedicated to serving humanity, cultural unity and social organization rather than power, protest or politics. Addressing a centennial lecture series before a packed audience, the 75-year-old said that RSS runs more than 1.3 lakhs service activities all over the country encompassing education, healthcare, disaster relief and social welfare without accepting any kind of government funding. “We sustain these activities with the personal contributions of Swayamsevaks and the co-operation of society. The RSS had decided beforehand that apart from organizing the entire society, it has no other task. That work which facilitates the completion of all other good works and fulfils all noble goals, that work is the Sangh’s mission,” Dr. Bhagwat declared. This narrow but decisive role of the RSS from its inception in 1925, and the organisational works enable the fulfilment of every other national and social objective, and its self-driven social responsibility, he added. Rubbishing the notion that RSS was born as an ‘opposition to any group of ideology’, Dr. Bhagwat pointed out that the RSS did not emerge as a reaction, a protest platform, a publicity vehicle or to bid for power, but was formed for the long-term betterment of the ‘rashtra’ with emphasis on cultural unity. The RSS was not "against anyone" and did not work as a reaction to any incident, Bhagwat said, adding that its focus was supporting and strengthening positive efforts underway in the country. The Sangh was also not a paramilitary force even though it conducts route marches, and though its volunteers wield the lathi, it should not be seen as an "akhada" (wrestling club), Bhagwat said. Nor is the RSS involved in politics though some individuals with the Sangh background are active in political life, he added. He acknowledged India’s diversity in languages, food habits, religious practices, deities, rituals and regional differences, but said all these co-exist within a shared cultural framework. “There is one identity that unites us all and we call it a Hindu. It’s a broader cultural and civilisational term and not religious…, Bharat is not just a geographical entity, but represents a cultural attitude.” reiterated Dr. Bhagwat. The Sarsanghchalak also referred to the prevailing interpretation of ‘secularism’ (‘Dharma-nirpekshata’) and said it implies ‘indifference to religion’ which does not represent the country’s civilizational reality. Instead, Dr. Bhagwat suggested ‘Panth-nirpekshata’ or equal respect for all faiths as a more accurate expression in the Indian context, as “Bharat is a nation rooted in dharma representing ethical duty, social harmony and moral order rather than religious dogma”. The RSS chief emphasised how national strength flows from social cohesion and not coercion as real unity cannot be imposed by law or force, but must arise out of mutual respect, shared values and collective discipline, with service being the most effective tool bridging society and ideology. Referring to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Bhagwat described the difficult circumstances of his childhood including the death of both his parents due to the plague at age 13 and the financial hardship he suffered subsequently. Hedgewar actively participated in various movements during the freedom struggle, including the Vande Mataram agitation in his school days, Bhagwat said. When he cleared the matriculation examination with a first class, some people in Nagpur raised funds to send him to Calcutta (Kolkata) for medical education, where he came in contact with revolutionary groups, Bhagwat said. Recalling an anecdote from that period, Bhagwat said Hedgewar operated under the code name "Koken", inspired by the name of a person called Kokenchandra. Once a police team which had arrived to arrest Kokenchandra instead detained Hedgewar, an incident documented in a book by Rash Behari Bose, he said. Bollywood bows for #RSS100 Bollywood mega-star Salman Khan, along with film-maker Subhash Ghai, writer-poet Prashoon Joshi, singer Adnan Sami and actress Ashwini Bhave were among the dignitaries who attended the centenary celebrations of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). They attentively listened to RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan M. Bhagwat as he enlightened the organisation’s 100 year long journey, its ethos, mottos and service to the nation without hankering for political power, at the Nehru Centre. As Khan arrived, there was quite a flutter with many people whipping out their mobiles to click photos or videos, but he was quickly whisked in by the security personnel.

"Justice will be delivered"

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha

Mumbai: As the Disha Salian death case rocked the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday, Nitesh Rane, Minister for Fisheries and Ports, who has been keenly following the case since June 2020, tells ‘The Perfect Voice’ that he has enough evidence to show that Disha was raped and murdered.


You’ve been speaking about this case since her death in June 2020. Who all do you think are involved?

June 8 and June 13 were related. To cover up what happened on June 8, June 13 occurred. I have been speaking about it since June 2020 because I know it wasn’t a suicide or accidental death but it was a murder. We have enough evidence to show that Disha Salian was raped and murdered.


What is the incriminating evidence that you have?

There are mobile tower records which show that Disha, Aditya Thackeray, and a Zomato delivery person’s phones were at the same location in Malad. The Zomato delivery person has also given his statement in this regard.


How was an alleged murder brushed off as a suicide?

The post mortem report was modified and tampered with. I have the original post mortem report which I procured from the municipal hospital where the post mortem was done. But these original reports were never made public. It shows that Disha was gang raped and murdered because the report shows injury marks around her private parts. There are many loopholes in their theory- if someone falls from the 14th floor, there are bound to be injuries on the face but the photographs we saw yesterday show no marks on her face. The post mortem reports that were released say that there were injuries on her face but look at the recent photos. Where are the marks? How is that even possible?


You have made a connection between Aditya Thackeray, Dino Morea and Sooraj Pancholi. What is the connection?

They are all friends who were partying during the Covid lockdown when everyone was staying home.


Most people are questioning the timing of Disha Salian’s father’s petition in the court. Why now after almost five years?

Her father stated that he was until now brainwashed into believing it was a suicide. But now he wants justice for his deceased daughter. Why question the timing? A father wants justice so he has approached the High Court. The police will act on court orders. It will come up for hearing on the High Court on Monday or Tuesday next week. Our assembly colleagues have come together to say that we should follow the Supreme Court’s judgement—that if a person is accused of rape, he should first be arrested. In the Assembly, we have only made this demand that the Supreme Court’s judgement should be followed.


“The original post mortem report states that Disha Salian was gangraped and murdered.”


“We have to protect our sisters in this state.”


“Our demand is that the Supreme Court judgement should be followed and a rape accused must first be arrested.”

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