Vote for ‘best available’ candidates in polls: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

NAGPUR: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday cautioned the electorate to remain alert from the divisive forces who might create trouble during the ensuing Assembly elections in five states to be followed by the Lok Sabha elections and urged them to opt for the "best available" among the candidates.

"Don’t succumb to the people who try to provoke you to divide society,” said RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, who urged them to perform the national duty of exercising their franchise.

Addressing the annual Vijayadashami celebrations at the sprawling Reshimbagh ground in Maharashtra's Nagpur, Bhagwat was all praise for successfully hosting the prestigious G20 Summit in India and for extending Indian hospitality to the participant countries. "The guests in India enjoyed the Indian traditions and culture and the warm receptions they received," he said. The RSS chief said it was indeed an achievement that during its session in India, the G20 warmly and heartily welcomed the African Union into its fold. The all-round progress of India, be it in science, agriculture, or the defence sector, was showcased.

On the Manipur crisis, he said some separatist forces were involved in the violence. Both the groups, Kuki and Meitei, were living there peacefully for years, but trouble cropped up in the border areas.

Hinting at the role of external forces behind the unrest in Manipur, the RSS chief said "extremists" from across the border were behind the violence in the northeastern state.

“If we look at the current situation in Manipur, this fact becomes obvious. How did this mutual discord and hatred suddenly erupt in Manipur, which had been peaceful for almost a decade? Were there also extremists from across the border 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?" Mohan Bhagwat said.

"Who has a vested interest in trying to drag and besmirch an organisation like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which has been engaged in serving everyone without any bias for years, into this unfortunate incident without any reason? Which foreign powers may be interested in taking advantage of such unrest and instability in Manipur?" Bhagwat added.

Probably for the first time making a mention of sports, the RSS chief complimented the athletes who did the country proud in the recently held Asian Games in China. He did not forget to mention 18 gold, 28 silver, and 47 bronze medals, for a total of 107.

Bhagwat also lauded the progress in the digital India, agriculture, and defence sectors. The Indian economy has reached the top five from the 10th position in recent years, he said.

The RSS chief, however, skipped the mention of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya early next year.

Noting that residents of the country are "descendants of common ancestors" RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday that "devotion to Bharat Mata unites people" and that it should be followed by all, irrespective of caste, sect, and religion.

Mohan Bhagwat said that the geographic location of India provided natural protection, with mountains on three sides as well as the sea, and that people in the country had devoted their time in search of internal truth, which also manifested as the "unity of the world".

"This is the blessing of Bharat Mata. Devotion to Bharat Mata is what holds us all together. This is applicable to all castes, sects, and religions," he said. (Agencies)

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