Entire Kashmir is ours including Gilgit-Baltistan: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday lauded the Army for carrying out surgical strikes, saying it has enhanced India's prestige in the world and given the message to trouble-makers that there is a limit to its patience.

The ongoing unrest in Kashmir, tension on the border and the issue of cow protection, which has brought BJP much flak, was the focus of the annual Dussehra address of the RSS chief, who vowed to root out social discrimination.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said the situation there is of concern and said the commitment of our leaders that the whole of the state, including PoK, belongs to India is good. "What is needed is that this strength of statement is reflected in action as well," he said.

"Under our government, the army has recently given a befitting reply. The Army's and India's prestige in the world have gone up. The trouble-makers have been given this message that there is a limit to patience... The one (Pakistan) which has been inimical to us is getting isolated. We are delighted with the valour shown by the army," he said.

The whole world is aware that the subversive activities constantly promoted from the across the border are mainly responsible for disturbances in the Kashmir valley, he said. With thousands of RSS functionaries in their new uniform of dark brown trousers instead of khaki shorts in attendance, he said the "firmness and efficiency shown in the matter of diplomacy and defence should permanently reflect in our policies".

"A level of perpetual co-ordination and co-operation is needed among in the defence forces and intelligence agencies as we have to pay a heavy price for a moment's distraction," he said.

Bhagwat also stressed on the need for maintaining a strict vigil on maritime boundaries as well as frontier areas and said the government and administration should engage the locals to stop infiltration from across the border.

On Kashmir, Bhagwat said that "whole of Kashmir including Mirpur, Muzzafarbad, Gilgit and Baltistan are an inseparable and integral part of India."

He also said that the "discriminatory" approach of the Jammu and Kashmir government and the state administration towards Jammu and Ladakh should end immediately.

"Only if Jammu and Kashmir government and the administration act with a nationalistic feeling and perform (their duties) in a clean, considerate, impartial and transparent way, the people of the state will have simultaneous feeling of victory and confidence, and the process of assimilation of the people in the valley will move forward," he said.

"There is an urgent need to promote, consolidate and establish nationalistic activities and forces in those areas. The Central and the state government must work in tandem," he added.

Expressing concern over the prevailing condition in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhagwat said the diplomatic moves at international level and strong resolve of the government and Parliament are welcome initiatives but need to be implemented with firmness.

He also advocated that Hindus who had returned to India from Pakistan should be rehabilitated with dignity and should be given citizenship rights.

Bhagwat also lauded the Central government for inspiring confidence among people across the nation. "A sense of disappointment among people all over the country has vanished due to acceleration of developmental work by the government," Bhagwat claimed.

"The government has built some measure of confidence, therefore the nation, it appears is moving forward," he said.

He also targeted the Opposition, saying those who could not make it to the echelons of power are busy formulating strategies for political gains.

Bhagwat said they are finding shortcomings and inadequacies of the government and the administration.

Dirty tricks being played are a matter of grave concern, he said warning people against fundamentalists, extremists, divisive and selfish forces area working in the world.

Former bureaucrat, Satyaprakash Rai, a Indian Economics Service (IES) officer of the 1976 batch was the chief guest on the occasion.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Transport and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari and playback singer Anuradha Paudwal were among those present on the occasion.