Lucknow: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh will now spread its footprints in rural areas by reaching out to farmers. The RSS also favours reaching out to stone-pelters and bringing them back into the social mainstream.
Discussions in this regard are being held at the ongoing RSS conclave in Mathura where it has been decided to set up ‘shakhas’ at the panchayat level and hold ‘chaupals’ in every village to hear out problems of the farmers.
“We believe that farmers vote as a group and not on caste lines. Their problems are specific to their profession, irrespective of their caste. We need to increase out interaction with them, listen to their problems, acquaint them with modern techniques in agriculture and even take agricultural scientists to the villages,” said a Sangh functionary.
The Kisan Sangh, an affiliate of the RSS, has been entrusted the responsibility of setting up ‘shakhas’ at the panchayat level. The Kisan Sangh leaders from across the country were categorically told to increase their presence among farmers which will automatically consolidate the Sangh presence at the village level.
The Kisan Sangh has been asked to start holding workshops in every village and help solve the problems faced by farmers in their agricultural work and work as a bridge between farmers and the governments.
The Sangh leaders will also keep the farmers informed about the various schemes and steps taken by the Modi and BJP governments in states to improve their situation. Efforts will also be made to bring rural women into the fold through the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, the women’s wing of the RSS.
The Kisan Sangh will also encourage farmers to keep cows and set up joint cow shelters in villages.
The Sangh, in its discussions, was of view that if the BJP has to ensure a record-breaking victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it must increase its footprints and approach those classes of society that had so far been alienated.
In another major development, the Sangh leaders felt that efforts should be made to reach out to ‘misguided youth’ including the stone-pelters in Kashmir.
Sanskar Bharti leader Uday Joshi said that in order to bust the terror network in the Valley, it was necessary to bring stone-pelters back into the social mainstream. He said that these youths were easy fodder for terrorists who misguided them and used them against the country.
The Sangh advised the government to start the healing process and build bridges with such youth.
