“Why India has been a repeated target of terrorist attacks? Why terrorism is not tackled at the roots itself? Who is responsible for these terrorist attacks? People of this country should pose these questions before the leaders whom we have empowered to govern the country,?? said Smita Salaskar, wife of the late Vijay Salaskar and Shri Shirish Karkare, brother of the late Hemant Karkare at Panvel on February 24. Both addressed the audience as chief guests in an open programme organised by Konkan Prant of RSS on the occasion of Rashtraraksha Ninand Ghosh Shivir at Karnala Sports Academy.
Noted singer and music director Shridhar Phadke who was the chief of the three-day camp, welcomed the chief guests. In his inaugural speech he said, ?Music is very close to human life. Music can effectively portray happy and tragic moments in life and it also has tremendous power to inspire society. Veer rasa rousing patriotic feelings among masses is necessary today for national security.? Delightful demonstrations presented by 770 participants (ghosh vadaks) set the mood of the programme.
Smt Smita Salaskar said in her speech, ?I don'ttake pride in calling myself ?veer patni?, because the very fact that my husband was the victim of terrorists who were illiterate and some ordinary people who could handle guns ?is extremely disgraceful to the national security of the country. How many more veer mata and veera patni do we want? Everybody should readily perform one'sduty if such a danger has to be avoided in future.? She further added that organisations like RSS would inspire people to perform their duties.
Shri Shirish Karkare, brother of former ATS chief Hemant Karkare, shared some memories of the late Hemant Karkare and expressed that every citizen should understand one'sresponsibility and perform one'sduty honestly. He said, ?The late Hemant Karkare had very high hopes from the youngsters of the country. After witnessing the Rashtriya Ninand Shivir, I am hopeful that the committed youngsters of this country can perform many things in future. This Ghosh Shivir is the very embodiment of patriotic fervour. Families are becoming smaller and smaller in today'sage of globalisation. In future the middle class people would have to bear the responsibility of performing national duty. The organisations like the RSS can nourish such feelings.? Vaishali Ombale, daughter of martyr police constable Ombale also spoke on the occasion.
RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi appealed to the audience to preserve national safety and exhorted the citizens to be prepared to destroy the evil tendencies in the society. He totally agreed with the opinions expressed by Karkare and Salaskar but he maintained that these feelings should be supported by positive action. He opined that India had experienced such challenges even before and positive strength of this country had successfully retaliated against it. ?It is wrong that today Hindu society is blamed as terrorist. Hindus were never terrorists and would never be terrorists in future. This country has always excelled in giving something to others. The internal security of India is indeed a matter of concern but more alarming is the threat of attacks from outside. Infiltration in border areas is the major challenge before the country. China is trying to increase its dominance over Arunachal Pradesh. To tackle this problem it is necessary to take support of international law and power of weapons. Today too much importance is given to politics and power game. It is sad that powers from outside play important roles in deciding the prime minister or president of the country. Vanvasi people are forced to convert to Christianity by using money. Every citizen should readily take some responsibility in tackling these challenges before the country. The government should do its duties and people should be conscious and alert in performing their duties and responsibilities. Hindus can be patient and tolerant only up to some limit and there is no need to teach lessons of humanity to them,?? he maintained. ?If the country has to face the challenge of problems like national security and conversion then the society should be more organised and media should play an important role in giving positive publicity to such organised work?, he added.
Attractive deepotsav was also arranged on the occasion. Pramod Bapat presented a song. Swanand Oak anchored the event.
(FOC)
