On the Record | ‘Why not keep Aadhaar’: RSS’ Indresh Kumar on NRC exclusions

Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar reiterated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supremo Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement that there should be a debate about reservation in the country. Speaking on Hindustan Times’ show On the Record, Kumar said, ``In this country, there are four existing types of quotas. (Mohan Bhagwat) His comments were a direction to those who carry out movements in the country, those agitationists, that they shouldn’t be spreading hate or violence but debate reservation. Debate is how this country has been running for the last 72 years,’’ he told HT, however refusing to elaborate on the kind of changes that the RSS wanted on the issue of quotas.

WATCH: On the Record | ‘Why not keep Aadhaar’: RSS’ Indresh Kumar on NRC exclusions

Bhagwat’s statement had created a bit of a political storm recently when he proposed a conversation between those who favoured quotas and those who opposed it. Reacting to that, the Congress party said that it showed the RSS’ anti-dalit mindset. They also alleged that the RSS was against reservation.

Kumar also supported the National Register of Citizens compilation exercise that has just released its final draft. When asked by HT about the 19 lakh people who have been excluded and declared illegal by the latest list, Indresh Kumar said, ``It shows that every citizen has to keep track of their documents,’’ he said, ``What do you think aadhaar is for?’’ adding, ``The government has given many opportunities to all to prove their citizenship, am sure they will sift out again.’’