Guwahati, July 21:
Brief
– RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says said CAA and NRC would not harm Muslims and has nothing to do with Hindu-Muslim divide
– Communal narrative surrounding these issues being used for political mileage.
– Bhagwat launched a book titled ‘Citizenship debate over NRC and CAA : Assam and the Politics of History’ in Guwahati
– RSS chief said the new citizenship law would give protection to persecuted minorities in neighbouring countries
– Bhagwat assures that NRC is only a process to find out genuine Indian citizens
– Akhand Bharat’s aim is to achieve unity through ‘Dharma’
Full Report
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is in Assam on a three-day visit, on Wednesday said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would in no way harm the Muslim and has nothing to do with Hindu-Muslim divide even as communal narrative surrounding these issues are being traded by a section of people to achieve political mileage.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supremo Bhagwat, who arrived in Guwahati on Tuesday evening, emphatically said that not a single Muslim would face any loss due to the new citizenship act.
“Since 1930 there have been organised plans to increase the Muslim population not in connection with terrorism and economy but to become a dominant force. It happened in Punjab, in Bengal and in Assam.”
“There are plans to turn these areas into their majority so that things work on their own terms. This happened in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Still, we want assimilation and want to live together,” Bhagwat said after launching a book titled ‘Citizenship debate over NRC and CAA : Assam and the Politics of History’.
The book is authored by Gauhati University Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta and it was released at a function at the famous Srimanta Sankardev International Auditorium, Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
The RSS chief said that the new citizenship law would give protection to persecuted minorities in the neighbouring countries, specially in Pakistan and Bangladesh. “After the partition we have taken care of our minorities even though Pakistan did not do it,” he said.
NRC an exercise to identify Indian citizens
Talking about the NRC, Bhagwat said that all nations have the right to know who its citizens are and added “NRC is only a process to find out who is a genuine citizen, nothing else.”
“The matter (NRC) is in the government domain. A section of people wants to get political mileage by creating a communal narrative involving both the NRC and CAA.”
“Since the Mahabharata period, Assam has had a history of migration but never had so much fear from illegal influx. Assimilation of all communities should take place, but there should not be any fear of other communities,” he stated.
Akhand Bharat
Advocating the need for “Akhand Bharat” (undivided India), the RSS chief said countries such as Pakistan which broke away from India are now in distress.
“Akhand Bharat is needed for the welfare of the universe. India has the ability to overcome several challenges and the world looks towards it to overcome those challenges and difficulties. With “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (world is one family) belief, India can again put forward happiness and peace to the world,” he said.
He added that when “Akhand Bharat” is talked about, their aim is not to achieve it with power but to unite through ‘Dharma’ (policy) that is ‘Sanatan’ (eternal), that is humanity and that is called as Hindu dharma.
RSS sources said that Bhagwat during his stay in Guwahati would hold meetings with senior RSS leaders (Pracharaks) of different parts of Assam and other northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.
This is Bhagwat’s first visit to Assam after the Bharatiya Janata Party led government returned to power for the second consecutive term in the northeastern state after winning the March-April assembly polls.
