Adopting a stance at variance with that of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh strongly disapproved of creation of a separate state of Telangana and said the demarcation of provinces on the basis of language did not solve the country's problems.
"Creation of separate states was a folly for which the nation is still paying the price. The proposed creation of Telangana will only add to the country's woes without solving any of its problems. We need to find out ways to unite the people and not divide them," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told a function organised by the outfit's 'Kashi Prant' unit in Allahabad.
The BJP, which considers the RSS as its parent organisation, has been favouring smaller states on the grounds that they are more governable. This is yet another instance, in the recent past, of the RSS having expressed an opinion at variance with the BJP's stand on a particular issue. A few months ago, the saffron outfit had commended Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's forays into backward rural areas even as the BJP had dismissed it as a political stunt.
On the language issue, the RSS sarsanghchalak withough naming Raj Thackeray or his Maharashtra Navanirman Sena, also questioned "the mindset which accepts taking an oath of office in English, a foreign language, but opposes anyone who does the same in Hindi.Those who oppose Hindi need to understand that this language is a common communication tool for the people inhabiting various parts of this diverse country. Even the people of the so-called Hindi belt speak different dialects in their own native places," Bhagwat said.
He also criticised the country's foreign policy, "which has neither helped us protect our national interests nor ensured friendly relations with any of our neighbouring countries, be it China, Pakistan or Myanmar. It is a pity that we could not make friends even with Bangladesh, which was carved out of Pakistan with Indian help," Bhagwat added.
Expressing concerns over environmental degradation, Bhagwat stressed on the need for population control. Bhagwat also hailed the RSS for its discipline and spirit of social service and said the outfit epitomised "true Hindutva which calls for national unity while respecting diversity." The function was attended by nearly 40,000 RSS members besides prominent figures from other Sangh Parivar organisations, including senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad supremo Ashok Singhal.
