Chandigarh, March 15 (IANS). The three-day meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (Assembly of All India Representatives) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) concluded on Sunday. The meeting called for eliminating caste-based discrimination and stopping the practice of doing caste-based analysis of voters’ demographic data during elections.
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told media persons in Samalkha in Haryana’s Panipat district that the Sangh supports social harmony and opposes attempts to divide the society on the basis of caste.
Hosabale also praised the diplomatic efforts of the central government amid the current global geopolitical situation, and said that the association ‘supports global peace and development’.
He said that RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar had not established this organization with the intention of opposing any particular community, religious sect or method of worship.
He said, “The difference in the method of worship and customs does not make any fundamental difference.”
Saying that everyone is welcome in the organisation, Hosabale said, “We consider anyone engaged in constructive work for the betterment of society as a volunteer of the Sangh.”
Emphasizing on the expansion of the organization’s activities, he said that the work of the Sangh has increased significantly in the last one year.
“The number of branches has increased by about 6,000, crossing the 88,000 mark, while the number of locations where they operate has increased to more than 55,000. The number of weekly meetings and study circles has also increased,” he said.
Hosabale said that the expansion of the organization is also visible in the way the Sangh’s branches work in areas like Andaman Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Leh and remote tribal areas.
He further said, “This expansion is also reflected in the various programs being organized on the occasion of the centenary of the Sangh.”
Referring to programs organized in different parts of the country, he said a Hindu conference in the Andaman Islands was attended by more than 13,000 people from nine different islands, and was also attended by Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.
“Similarly, in a sparsely populated state like Arunachal Pradesh, more than 37,000 people participated in 21 conferences based on indigenous spiritual traditions,” he said.
According to Hosabale, along with the expansion of the organization, the Sangh is also working towards improving the quality of life and character in the society. He said, “It is very important to inspire to bring positive social change through the concept of Panch Parivartan (five changes). The Indian ethos, or Hindutva, is not just an ideology but a way of life. Through this way of life, the standards of the entire society should be uplifted.”
Hosabale also said that the society should rise above the discrimination of caste and religion and respect the contributions of great personalities.
He said that on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, RSS volunteers organized more than 2,000 programs across the country in which more than 7 lakh people participated.
He further said that similarly, the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ was also celebrated with full enthusiasm.
Giving information about the regular training camps of the association, Hosabale said that 96 training camps will be organized in 11 regions, along with one camp in Nagpur.
Responding to a question from media persons, he said that the concept of decentralization within the organizational structure has also been discussed.
“This includes a proposal to replace the existing ‘Prant’ (provincial) units with smaller administrative divisions known as ‘Sambhag’ (regions). If implemented, there will be more than 80 such regions in place of the existing 46 provinces,” he said.
The three-day RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of the organisation, was attended by 1,489 delegates.
Representatives of 32 affiliated organisations, including BJP national president Nitin Naveen and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, were also present at the event.
–IANS
SCH