“RSS believes that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail is against the economic interest of the country and it should not be allowed at all,” RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat said in New Delhi while speaking at an interaction organised on October 31 with prominent citizens of Delhi on his Vijayadashami speech. On the occasion Shri Bhagwat clarified many queries from the audience on various issues and highlighted the RSS views on them.
Shri Bhagwat asked why the policymakers are bent upon killing the country’s retailers by allowing FDI in the commodities like soap, oil or vegetables. He said the RSS always believed that the technology, which helps us in sustaining a good lifestyle and that we lack can be borrowed from other countries but on our own terms. He said the RSS approach has always been in strengthening self-reliance and non-violence. Man’s real freedom is self-reliance. He said the country needs an economic policy which ensures every citizen to have food, clothing, housing, health, education, and none of the citizen need to commit suicide due to lack of these.
About neighbouring countries, especially Pakistan, Shri Bhagwat said we should create a far-sighted strategy that restricts Pakistan on attacking us. He said also cautioned the nation on evil designs of China. The Sarsanghachalak also said that despite having diversity of ideologies we all can work together for betterment of the country.
Answering a question Shri Bhagwat expressed his disagreement that the credibility of RSS is declining and said it is rather growing. He explained that he does not feel any need of change in the RSS doctrine. He said the Sangh work is constantly expanding and the number of shakhas with the presence of new volunteers is increasing.
In response to a question regarding women empowerment, he made it clear that the RSS is entirely in favour of women empowerment. “We think for empowerment of all. Both man and woman are equal. In fact, it requires equal participation of both in family and social life. Women should be strong, empowered and enlightened. If they want to be proactive, we should inspire them to be proactive and provide them appropriate atmosphere for progress,” he emphasised. —Bureau Report
Vanvasi women conference by Kalyan Ashram
Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram organised a Vanvasi women convention in Bastar to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Kalyan Ashram runs Rani Durgawati girls hostel for the last 30 years at Bhanpuri in Bastar, where the function was actually organised. The hostel houses 35 Vanvasi girls. Phoolkumari, incharge of the hostel, played a key role in mobilising Vanvasi women for the convention.
Kalyan Ashram vice president Shri Kripa Prasad Singh apprised the women of the message of Swami Vivekananda. He prominently discussed the role and importance of women in the Sanatan society and also the contribution to family and nation development. Smt Priya Mochaki and Smt Krishna Baghel of Mahila Panchayat also spoke on the occasion. The discussion was also held on women education, forest preservation and protection of girl child at the convention. Such a function was organised in Bastar after a long gap. —Bureau Report
Dr Narendra Prasad is new president of Arogya Bharati
Noted surgeon of Patna and social activist Dr Narendra Prasad has been elected new president of Arogya Bharati. The announcement to his election was made at the national executive meeting organised in Pathankote (Punjab) on October 20. He is founder trustee of Arogya Bharati and was working as national vice president.
Apart from Dr Narendra Prasad, Dr Raghvendra Kulkarni will be patron, Dr Sunil Ghate, working president, Dr Ramesh Gautam general secretary, Dr Ashok Kumar Varshneya organizing secretary, Dr Pravin Bhavsar and Dr Vijayalakshmi Deshmane vice presidents, Dr Tatyal joint secretary, Dr Madhusudan Deshpande treasurer, Shri Bhaskar Kulkarni, Dr Yogesh Chandra Mishra. Dr Amar Bahadur Ghakore, Vaidya Vijay Kulkarni, Dr Surendra Reddy and Dr Brijnarayan Singh, all members.
A total of 150 delegates from 26 Prants attended the national executive meeting. There were different sessions on healthy life style, publicity of indigenous medicines, Suryanamaskar, yoga etc. Healthy village is the pet project of Arogya Bharati and the work is going on in more than 250 villages of the country. —Bureau Report
News-in-brief
NOBW opposes RBI decision allowing acquisition of Indian banks by foreign banks
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on November 6 allowed foreign banks to acquire domestic banks. National Organisation of Bank Workers’ (NOBW) strongly opposed the decision and said it would be a great threat to the Indian economy.
In a statement NOBW general secretary Ashwani Rana said the record of these banks is not good. During the global financial crises a number of US banks collapsed, but our Indian banks were not affected due to strong regulations of our country. Then why Government is so keen to allow foreign banks. Foreign banks have never contributed to our country’s economic growth and development. They are interested only in profits and have no role in social banking. Some of these foreign banks have also been involved in various scams in the past. Our public sector banks are the mainstay and backbone of our economy and every effort should be taken to strengthen our banks rather than hand them over to these foreign banks, he said.
Swayamsevaks celebrate Deepavali with patients
Sanivar Shaka swayamsevaks in Erode celebrated Deepavali with GH patients. They spent time with patients and gave them fruits, biscuits and prayed for their speedy recovery. Around 65 karyakartas including Shri N Rajan, Prant Sampark Pramukh, Shri P M Ravikumar, Sah Prant Pracharak, Uttar Tamil Nadu, Shri Jagadeesan, Zilla Pracharak, Shri Vairavel Deviprasath, Hindu Munnani volunteers joined the activity. (VSK Chennai)
Health camp for Vanvasi in Dadra Nagar Haveli
Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram organised a health camp for the people of Vanvasi villages of Dadra Nagar Haveli at Dudhani village on October 31. A total of 742 patients were examined at the camp and were provided suitable medicines. Shri Deepak Tipareji from Vadodara conducted the check-up. The camp was inaugurated by Dr S Kumar of Selvasa. Prior to the camp a mass awareness campaign was conducted by a team of Arogya Rakshakas in remote villages requesting people take benefit of the camp. Dr Ganesh Varnekar, Dr Meenesh Kothari, Dr Manish Patel, Dr Sarita and Smt Heena Andher from Khanvel government hospital also joined the camp. Mahila Samiti of Selvasa had arranged medicines for the camp and for it they met many doctors and businessmen. —Bureau Report
Tarun Vijay’s mother passes away
Smt Rajrani, mother of BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former editor of Panchjanya Shri Tarun Vijay, passed away in Dehradun on November 2. She was 99. She was suffering from cancer for some time. She is survived by three sons and a daughter.
In his tribute, President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee described her as an ideal example of social service, as she dedicated much of her time for the uplift of Vanvasi children. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also paid tribute. RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi and Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale also paid their tribute. Foreign Affaris Minister Salman Khursheed also praised her service mindset. Senior BJP leader Shri LK Advani, Leader of Opposition Smt Sushma Swaraj, Shri Arun Jaitley, I&B Minister Manish Tiwari, Uttarkhand Governor Shir Aziz Kureshi and Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna and many other leaders of BJP and Congress paid tribute.
Pt Vishvamitra Pushkarana passes away
A senior swayamsevak and one of the key founders of Sewa Bharati work in Delhi Pt Vishvamitra Pushkarana passed away on October 23. He was 97. Born on April 20, 1016 in Lahore he came into RSS contact at an early age. Later, he carried the responsibility of Lahore Nagar Karyavah. He was also active in the freedom struggle and participated in satyagraha called by Lala Lajpat Rai. He was also associated with various initiatives taken by Gurudev Ravindranath Thakur.
At the time of Partition he vehemently participated in rehabilitation activities of migrants through RSS. Later he continued his association with the RSS in Jalandhar and then in Delhi. He was an important person in Sampark Vibhag and then became one of the key members in founding Sewa Bharati. With the growing age, he started a sewa project at his residence. His recitation of religious texts such as the Guru Granth Sahib, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagwat Geeta, Satyartha Prakash was very popular among the associates. He played a major role in spreading Kalyan. Even with deteriorating health, his regular shakha was never missed. He had a fortune to work with three Sarsanghachalaks—Shri Guruji, Shri Balasaheb Deoras and Shri Rajju Bhaiya on various occasions. His association with the then Sarkaryvah Shri Madhavrao Mulay was crucial in spreading the Sangh work in Delhi.
A special prayer meeting was organised on November 2, which was attended by Shri Jaynarayan Khandelwal, patron of Sewa Bharati, Dr Bajranglal Gupt, Kshetriya Sanghachalak, Shri Premchan Goyal and others.
