BENGALURU: On the inaugural day of the three-day Akhila Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body meeting of the Sangh Parivar, the organization has said that the ongoing national controversy of a north-south regional divide is nothing more than a political ploy.
Briefing the media, soon after the inaugural by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarasanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Sahsarkaryavah or joint general secretary C R Mukunda said the Sangh parivar clearly believes that it is nothing more than a politically motivated intention to drive a divide between the northern and southern states.
“Be it the change in Rupee symbol into a local script or be it the language policy, RSS believes it is politically motivated move,” said Mukunda, alluring to the Tamil Nadu DMK government decisions.
The statement comes a day ahead of the crucial non-BJP state governments meeting in Chennai against the proposed Parliamentary seats delimitation, language issue and devolution of funds, When questioned about the scepticism in the south over the delimitation process likely to reduce the number of Parliament seats, Mukunda referred to union home minister Amit Shah statement in Coimbatore claiming that the ratio of MP seats will be maintained to that of the population.
“While it is not the RSS place to speak on the centre’s decisions, we believe that our union home minister has already clarified that the ratio of the MP seats will be maintained,” he said.
Mukunda also added that the divide can only be reduced by social groups and society coming together rather than political leaders trying to talk through.
On the language policy, the RSS leader said no resolution has been taken in the three language policy and only one has been approved by the Sangh, that is in Mother Tongue.
“However, I believe that one needs to learn a societal or market language and a career language. One needs to converse with people locally and also consider a language for his career growth. Be it Tamil or Hindi for market language depending on where one lives and English or Hindi for one’s career growth,” he said.
The RSS leader said in both formal and informal meetings the Sarkaryavah of the RSS, Dattatreya Hosabale had confided that the Sangh functionaries must make an effort to learn either a southern or north eastern language to have better understanding of the country.
Earlier, Mukunda said the RSS has taken the view that the situation in Manipur will “take a long time” to normalise with efforts being made to bring the leaders from both the Kuki and Metyi communities to the table for discussions.
“The RSS workers in both these communities are making strong efforts to bring the leaderships to the table for discussions. Whatever influence or moral authority RSS has, we are using.
While it will take a long time for wounds to heal, I can say that there is hope now for the people of that state,”said the RSS leader.
Mukunda said back channel talks have been held by the RSS functionaries in Imphal, Guwahati and even in Delhi to bring peace in the state.