RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat targets Left, asks people to vote cautiously

Nagpur: With the general elections due next year, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday urged the voters keeping in mind the unity, integrity and development of the country. He also cautioned against attempts to garner votes by inflaming emotions, saying they are not desirable.

“The country is going to hold elections to the Lok Sabha in the early days of 2024. Attempts to harvest votes by inflaming emotions are not desirable, but they still keep happening. Let us avoid these things, as they hurt the unity of the society. To cast a vote is the duty of every citizen and we must follow it. Cast your vote keeping in mind the vital issues of unity, integrity, identity and development of the country,” Bhagwat said while addressing the annual foundation day event of the RSS, which falls on Dussehra, at Nagpur.

“Think with a calm mind about who is good and who has done good work. The Indian public has experienced everything... Give to those who are best,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhagwat described ‘cultural Marxism’ as ‘selfish and deceitful’ forces seeking to divide the country by taking “control of the media and academia.”

“The purpose of India’s rise has always been the welfare of the world. But there are some people in the world and in India too, who do not want India to stand (on its own). These selfish, discriminatory and deceitful forces seeking their sectarian interests are also making their own efforts to disrupt social cohesion and promote conflict. They wear various cloaks. Some of these forces call themselves ‘cultural marxists’ or ‘woke’ nowadays,” said Bhagwat.

The RSS chief further said that those people are opposed to all orderliness and morality, beneficence, culture, dignity and restraint in the world. Their modus operandi involve taking control of the media and academia and plunging education, culture, politics and social environment into confusion, chaos and corruption. Such an environment enables the creation of a vicious cycle of fear, confusion and hatred. A society that is divided and entangled in mutual conflicts and confusion becomes weak and easily and unknowingly falls prey to these destructive forces, he added.

Speaking on the violence in Manipur the RSS chief expressed doubts over the involvement of external forces. “In Manipur, when people on both sides of the conflict are seeking peace, which are these forces that are attempting to trigger hatred and violence by causing an incident as soon as any positive step is seen being taken in that direction?” he asked.

“For many years, Meitei and Kuki communities have been living together. How did the violence erupt all of a sudden? The conflict benefits external forces. Are external factors involved?” he asked.

Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan was the chief guest for the RSS’ annual Dussehra event. Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present at the event.