How RSS has been working towards nation-building

Published by
Dr Mahender Thakur

Following the grand Praan Pratishtha of Bhagawan Shree Ram Lala’s Vigrah (murti) in Ayodhya, there is a lot of talk about CAA and UCC throughout the nation these days. Concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Indian Government has released a notification. Simultaneously, the Uniform Civil Code Act of Uttarakhand has been endorsed by Her Excellency the President of Bharat. Both of these issues continue to be highly debated. However, are you aware of the origins of the solutions to problems such as Article 370, the construction of the Shree Ram Mandir, CAA, and UCC?

Nowadays, it’s rare to find a day when Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) isn’t making news. Even though Sangh’s work is carried out through its base, called Shakha, there is another facet of its’ work that receives relatively little attention. That component consists of the two major Sangh meetings held annually at the national level. These are, namely, Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) and Akhil Bhartiya Karyakaari Mandal (ABKM).

About 1,400 Karyakartas from all states across the nation are expected to participate in the ABPS meeting. This time, the ABPS meeting will take place in Nagpur from March 15–17, 2024.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh brainstorms at these two annual gatherings on the nation’s current issues. Following thorough brainstorming sessions, resolutions are passed. The resolutions passed offer straightforward fixes for issues related to the national interest. These resolutions provide information about the Sangh’s official position on a range of topics.

The Sangh’s first ABPS meeting was held in 1950. From that time until 2023, the Sangh passed over 285 resolutions in ABPS and ABKM addressing national issues and current affairs.

Following the assessment of these resolutions, around 20 significant categories of issues can be created. Concerning them, the Sangh has unquestionably passed a resolution. These categories are given below:

1.     Anniversary

2.     Assam

3.     Bangladesh

4.     China

5.     Cow protection

6.     Education

7.     Jammu and Kashmir

8.     Minority appeasement

9.     National issues

10.  National security

11.  Natural resources

12.  Nepal

13.  North East

14.  Pakistan

15.  Partition

16.  Punjab

17.  Religious conversions

18.  RSS

19.  Shri Ram Janmabhoomi

20.  Social issues

If we carefully observe the above-mentioned categories of resolutions, we can understand Sangh’s perspective and way of thinking.  It can be said that, from a national perspective, there would hardly be any topic that has not been included in these resolutions. This reveals Sangh’s nuanced approach to issues of national interest. It is difficult to say here how seriously the different Indian governments would have taken these resolutions of the RSS. However, it is evident from the movement against Ram Sethu’s demolition how important these resolutions are. But perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that the present government takes the resolutions of the Sangh into cognizance.

Because during the tenure of the present government, laws like CAA and NRC have been passed in the Parliament of Bharat, the decision of the Supreme Court in favour of the Shree Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and the construction of the mandir have been started immediately. We have seen the grand Praan Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024. Abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir by the present Government of Bharat, division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into three Union Territories, passing of laws prohibiting religious conversion and cow slaughter by some state governments, making China and Pakistan understand in the language they understand, resolving the border dispute by demarcating the border with Bangladesh, starting the process of expelling Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators from the country, etc. There are many issues that are related to these resolutions of the RSS.

It is important to accept one thing: there is a lack of information and awareness among the people of the country about these resolutions of the Sangh. In fact, these resolutions of the Sangh are very important, and through them, it helps in understanding the important role of the RSS from a national perspective.

What is there in CAA, after all? The Indian Government would provide citizenship by legal process to Hindus who are victims of religious persecution and injustice in Bharat’s neighbouring countries. Are you aware of CAA’s origins?

For your information, the ABPS of the Sangh passed a resolution in 1950 over the tragic situation that has arisen on account of the merciless massacre, loot, accompanied by arson, forcible conversions, rape, and abductions of Hindu nationals in Pakistan.

The resolution declares, “In spite of the unfortunate acceptance of the partition of the motherland, the Hindus in Pakistan have not lest and cannot lose their nationality and are consequently entitled to every protection and ‘relief from the State of Bharat”.

This resolution of the Sangh can be considered the origin point of the CAA. On the need for a Uniform Civil Code (Law), the Sangh passed a resolution in 1986 titled ‘Government’s Regressive Step in the Shahbano Case’. A resolution entitled ‘On uniform civil code’ was also passed in its ABKM in 1995.

More than 10 resolutions regarding Shree Ram Mandir or Shree Ram Janmabhoomi alone were passed in both the meetings (ABPS and ABKM) from 1986 to 2021. The Sangh has passed 9 resolutions in both its meetings from 1961 to 2012 on issues like the country’s north-eastern state of Assam and the nationwide challenge of illegal Bangladeshi infiltration, violence, and separatism.

The Sangh has passed 13 resolutions from 1971 to 2021 regarding Bangladesh and related nationwide challenges. Disruptive forces keep conspiring to play their game in Punjab from time to time. The Sangh has passed 12 resolutions from 1982 to 1989 regarding the state of Punjab alone. There is a wide range of issues and subjects of national interest on which the Sangh passes resolutions every year in both its meetings.

Not only passes the resolutions but also works in that direction through its Karyakartas’ on the ground level. For those who see India from India’s perspective, there is a need to pay special attention to the proposals of the ABPS and ABKM of the RSS.

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