Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over the continued unrest in Manipur, a northeastern state that has been in turmoil since May 3 of the previous year. This is the first time that Bhagwat himself has commented on the Manipur situation, an issue that has been gathering a lot of criticism against the BJP.
In his speech to RSS workers, Bhagwat said bloodshed in Manipur should stop and utmost efforts should be made to window a way to peace in Manipur. The Lok Sabha election results were announced two days ago, which is important to note because this is the second comment that Bhagwat has made on a situation.
\"Manipur has been waiting for peace for a year. Violence has to be stopped, and it has to be given priority,\" Bhagwat said while addressing a group of RSS trainees here.
Bhagwat also expressed his displeasure with the misuse of modern technology to spread false narratives at a time when a country had gone for its biggest democratic exercise — the elections. Although he did not take any particular name, what Bhagwat was saying was a reaction to the narrative built by opposition parties over constitutional amendments and reservation policies.
He said,"We have made strides in many fields, like the economy, defence, sports, culture, technology etc. That does not mean that we have overcome all the challenges."
Bhagwat said the nation has progressed on several fronts, including the economy, defence, sports, culture, and technology. But that doesn't mean that the country has become free from challenges.
He said "decency and limitations" during the campaign were missing, which is unfortunate.
"Though there were two main groups contesting elections, the 'maryada' was not followed in spirit."
He said while there were two main groups contesting elections, there was a lot lacking in campaign manners, which is quite unfortunate. There was zero role of decorum and limitation during the election campaign, Bhagwat pointed out.
Seeking cooperation and amity in parliamentary proceedings, he spoke about constructive competition among party members rather than confrontation. Emphasizing that the role of the Opposition is to bring deliberation and consensus building in Parliament, he accused the government of a continuous discourse of disturbance.
In his speech, Bhagwat lauded the government's efforts and expressed that the policies of the government in the last decade have propelled economic, scientific, technological, and educational growth in India. He said India has come out from all troubles strongly.
The elections are already over, and so Bhagwat considered it to be the right time for the nation to work in union to redress the ongoing problems so far by positively discussing them.
He encouraged people to maintain family ties and hence consider family get-togethers to be a must and must-have regular meals with all family members during family gatherings.
From the speeches, it is to be realized how important peace in Manipur is, the misuse of technology in political discussion on the one side, and the request for parliamentary discipline and positive dialogue in addressing the national cause.
