Bhagwat expresses concern over growing population, calls for policy to check it

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing population, called for a comprehensive policy to check it, and the need for all sections of society to abide by it. In his annual Vijaya Dashmi speech, he also said the dialogue with minority communities will continue, expressed concern over rising communal violence, called for women’s empowerment, and described it as a myth that English is important for a career.

Bhagwat said the dialogue with minority communities has been going on for years. “We are in favour of living in peace and harmony,” Bhagwat said.

The comments came days after he met a Muslim cleric and visited a Muslim seminary in New Delhi as part of RSS’s outreach to the community amid a clamour for monitoring the functioning of the Islamic religious schools. Bhagwat earlier held an interaction with eminent personalities from the community, who proposed to work with the RSS to build communal amity.

Speaking about the growing population on Wednesday, Bhagwat said it can also be seen as an asset. “We are at the stage of demographic dividend and this should work in our favour. China managed to control the population by implementing strict policies but now its population is old. Realising that they are now encouraging a two child policy,” he said.

“We have 57% of youth in our population but we need to think 50 years ahead on education, health care, and other aspects of our people and a policy needs to be drafted having this vision in mind.”

Bhagwat expressed concerns about population imbalance and demographic changes. He said East Timor, South Sudan, and Kosovo emerged as a result of population imbalance in Indonesia, Sudan, and Serbia. “Population imbalances lead to changes in geographical boundaries. Alongside the differences in birth rate, conversions by force, lure or greed, and infiltration are also big reasons. All these factors have to be mulled over. Population control and religion-based population balance is an important subject that can no longer be ignored,” he said.

Bhagwat said a population policy has to be formulated keeping in mind the limited resources. “Our country has a huge population. This is a reality. Nowadays there are two kinds of evaluation done on population. Populations require resources. If they keep growing, they become a big burden, perhaps an unbearable burden. Therefore, with the perspective of population control, plans are made.”

In 2015, RSS passed a resolution demanding a population policy. Bhagwat, who also spoke about the issue last year, in 2018 called for the common law to ensure “demographic balance” based on the principle of a uniform policy applicable to all.

RSS has repeatedly spoken about a population policy built around the belief that the Hindu population of the country is not growing as fast as that of Muslims or Christians.

Bhagwat said all sections of society and representatives of all faiths should unequivocally denounce communal violence. He said whatever the extent of provocation, protests should always have to be within the boundaries of laws and the Constitution. “Our society should come together, not fall apart or quarrel. With a sense of mutual reciprocity in word, deed, and actions, all should speak mindfully and sensibly,” he said.

The comments come against the backdrop of increasing communal tensions and clashes in recent months.

Bhagwat referred to the murders of a tailor and a pharmacist allegedly for supporting former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who made blasphemous comments against the Prophet Mohammad. He called the murders extremely horrific and grisly. “Our society was stunned. Most were sad and angry. It has to be ensured that there is no recurrence of such incidents.”

Bhagwat said an entire community cannot be blamed for the incidents and that there is a need for society to speak out against such incidents. He added after the tailor’s killing prominent Muslims voiced their protest. “…Protesting against such incidents should not be an isolated phenomenon within the Muslim society rather it should become the nature of the large section. Hindu society in general assertively expresses protest and after such incidents even if the accused are Hindus…” he said.

Bhagwat underlined the Indian identity should override the diversity in language, food choices, attire, and faith. He said there has been fear-mongering about RSS and its motives and an impression has been created that it is anti-minorities. He referred to his meetings with Muslims and added such interactions have been going on since the time of KB Hedgewar, the RSS founder.

“Scare-mongering is done among so-called minorities that there is a danger to them because of us. This has not happened in the past, nor will it happen in the future. This is neither the nature of Sangh nor of the Hindus, history bears this out. Self-defence and defence of our own become a duty for everyone against those who spread hatred, commit injustice, atrocity, engage in acts of hooliganism and enmity towards society,” he said. “Sangh has a steely resolve to stand on the side of brotherhood, amity, and peace,” he said.

Bhagwat referred to the New Education Policy and said it should lead to students becoming highly cultured and good human beings inspired by patriotism. “This is everyone’s desire. Society needs to support this actively.”

He said access to temples, water, and cremation should not be equal for all. “Its arrangement has to be ensured. “Everyone has to respect each other. We have to think of society, not just of ourselves,” he said, referring to the need to end caste-based discrimination.

Bhagwat said “obstacles” hindering Sanatana Dharma are created by forces inimical to India’s unity and progress. “They spread fake narratives, encourage anarchy, engage in criminal acts, foment terror, conflict and social unrest.”

He said men and women are equal in every aspect and have equal potential and capabilities. “Women are regarded as jagat janani [mother of the universe] but at home are treated as slaves. Women empowerment should begin at home and they should be given their rightful place in society.”

Bhagwat underlined the importance of women in realising the goal of becoming the world leader again. “If we want to build a vishwa guru Bharat [world leader India] then equal participation of women is also required,” he said. He added the country must empower women as it cannot progress without them.

He said the world has recognised India’s importance and that it was visible when New Delhi bailed out crisis-ridden Sri Lanka. He said India was the only country, which went out of its way to stand like a rock with Sri Lanka in its darkest hour.

Bhagwat said India was recovering from the economic crisis due to Covid and its role during Sri Lankan political and economic crisis and in the Ukraine war was laudable. “Our political weight has gone up in the world due to this. The way we helped Sri Lanka, and our stand during the Ukraine-Russia conflict shows that we are being heard