RSS suspends Annual Training Camps and other Congregations till June

When the entire country is under lockdown, as the number of coronavirus victims are increasing rapidly thanks to the misdeeds of Tablighi Jamat, over two lakh RSS swayamsevaks provide relief material to over 2.5 lakh families at 26,000 places across the country; RSS also suspends its annual training camps and other congregations till June

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the present situation developed due to the spread of coronavirus, the Rashtriya Swayamsevaks Sangh (RSS) cancelled more than 90 Sangh Shiksha Vargas (annual training camps) and all other public activities to be held from April to June, across the country. It has happened for the first time in the history of the Sangh. All state units of the Sangh are extending helping hand to the needy people and over two lakh swayamsevaks are engaged in different relief activities at over 26,000 places at this hour of crisis. “Till April 7, two lakh RSS swayamsevaks have reached to over 25.5 lakh families with relief material. All the Sangh associated organisations, including Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), SAKSHAM, Vidya Bharati, etc. are reaching different sections of the society through different activities during the lockdown,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr. Manmohan Vaidya, while talking to media through an app on April 8.

Dr. Vaidya described the crisis, developed due to coronavirus, as unprecedented and said the country is fighting against it effectively. He appreciated the Government of India for implementing decisions efficiently in the country of 130 crore people. He said the decision of introducing lockdown in a phased manner—first for one day and then for 21 days—helped the society to make its mind for it and cooperate with government agencies. Appreciating the cooperative nature of the Bharatiya society, Dr. Vaidya said that in our social structure people automatically come forward to help their fellow citizens in need, whereas in other countries, the people are habitual of depending upon the government agencies for everything.

Dr. Vaidya informed that the swayamsevaks are habitual to start different activities for the help of the people during any crisis. This time also they started different sewa activities from northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Assam to the other states. He pointed out that over two lakh swayamsevaks are carrying out different sewa activities at 26,000 places and till now about 2.5 lakh families and individuals have been benefited by those activities. He said the swayamsevaks have started 25 types of sewa activities during the corona crisis. Helpline numbers have been released in many states and the needy people are seeking help through those helplines. Apart from offering meals and medical help, people coming from other states have also been provided with shelter.

Dr. Vaidya pointed out that the swayamsevaks in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, have prepared safety dress for the health department personnel. They are also distributing masks and sanitizers. Ayurveda and homeopathy medicines are also being distributed among lakhs of people. Meals are being provided to the baggers, who were dependent on different religious places. Feeds are being provided to the monkeys in Chitrakoot and Humpy. The swayamsevaks are constantly busy in providing help to the nomads and tribal communities in Solapur, Yavatmal, Kolhapur, and Uttar Pradesh. Blood donation camps are also being arranged. Vidya Bharati, in 16 districts of Madhya Pradesh has provided its 115 buildings to the administration for use. The swayamsevaks are also looking after the needs of daily wagers. Saksham has provided psychiatry advice to the coronavirus victims. When some labourers started migration from Delhi, the swayamsevaks provided shelter and food to about eight lakh people. They, through 5000 buses of Uttar Pradesh government, helped them to reach their villages safely. The workers of different organisations including Sewa Bharati, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Vidya Bharati, Arogya Bharati, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Saksham, National Medicos Organisation, Bharatiya Janata Party, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Seema Jan Kalyan Samiti, etc. are helping the people with the support of society.

The RSS Sahsarkaryavah further pointed out that the swayamsevaks are running e-shakhas to maintain the spirit of collectivity during the lockdown period. At many places, families are coming together and the experiment of family shakha is also being introduced. He said this period is for Sangh Shiksha Vargas in the Sangh. From mid-April to June end, about 90 Sangh Shiksha Vargas are organised to impart organisational training to the swayamsevaks. Keeping in mind the present situation, the Sangh leadership has decided to suspend all its training camps and gatherings till June end. The Sangh Shiksha Vargas were not organised during the ban on Sangh. It is for the first time in the Sangh history since 1929 the training camps have been cancelled even after full preparations.

Replying to a query, Dr. Vaidya said the crisis is not before the daily wagers alone, but before everybody. “One of our friends was telling that about 125 persons work with him. There is no income for one month even then all the 125 workers have been paid their wages in time. Since the crisis is before all, we would come out of it collectively. The first challenge is to overcome the crisis. I hope we would collectively recover the loss also in coming a few months, once the crisis is over.

Answering another question, Shri Vaidya said the swayamsevaks are adopting all precautions and following all directions including social distancing, using masks and sanitizers. Replying to a question over Tablighi Jamat Shri Vaidya said the number of victims has obviously increased suddenly due to the Jamat. The newspaper reports and other facts tell the truth. It would have been better if the Jamat leadership had cancelled the event. Contrary to it, the RSS cancelled its Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha scheduled to be organised in Bengaluru from March 15 to 17. About 1500-1600 workers from across the country, were to attend the meeting. About 300 local workers were busy in making the arrangements. But the Sangh leadership realised the seriousness of the situation and decided to cancel the meeting. Some delegates were to come through flights. But they were told not to board the flights. Some left the trains even before reaching Bengaluru. Those who reached Bengaluru were kept at different places. Arrangements were made to send them back. Such a sensible responsibility was shown by the Sangh leadership. Such a critical situation would not have developed if the same responsibility was shown by the Tablighi leaders.

Not cancelling the event is one thing, but deliberately hiding the virus victims and attacking as well as assaulting the corona fighters who come for treating and diagnosing them only show the perverse mindset. “Who will justify spitting here and there and misbehave with the nurses, who are treating the victims? This is a fact that a big section of Muslims has obeyed the government instructions and they are cooperating, but there is a section, which does not understand the gravity of the situation. Whether it is a conspiracy or not they know it better, but they are themselves getting exposed in their own society. The people of their own society are helping the administration and also informing about the hideouts of Jamat people,” Dr. Vaidya said.