Agriculture isn’t just for making money, it is dharma for us, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says

Addressing RSS workers in Kota, Bhagwat says time is now in their favour, which they should use to fulfill big agendas, besides expanding the organisation.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

New Delhi: Without directly commenting on the farmers’ protest against the Modi government’s controversial farm laws, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stressed that agriculture in India is not just a money-making business, but it’s also value-based and traditional.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh leader Dattopant Thengadi’s birth centenary celebrations in Kota Tuesday, Bhagwat remembered Thengadi’s contribution in constituting the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (RSS’s agriculture wing), saying: “Agriculture is not just to feed people and do business, agriculture is dharma for us.

“In our ancient texts, it is linked to goddess Lakshmi. There are many descriptions, which link prosperity to agriculture. It is linked to our culture and sanskar, it is not just an avenue for employment. In the West, it is linked to the economy, they say the agricultural economy. I am not saying this is wrong but it is a fact that they have exploited resources, ecology, but we have to establish agriculture as a way of life, then only agriculture will prosper.”

‘Covid proved world has no vision’

Bhagwat said Covid has proved that the world has no darshan (vision) and all countries are looking up to India for vision.

“Earlier, the perception was that everything good lies in the West. Our entire darshan was ridiculed. But now it is proved that the world has no alternative vision. India has a distinct vision, which needs to be told. We have darshan to lead the world,” he said.

“In our country, agriculture is 10,000 years old. We practised it, conserved it. Our organic farming is a thousand-year-old concept, which the world is adopting now,” he added.

Stressing on cow-based agriculture, which is one of the main visions that RSS is implementing in many villages across India, Bhagwat said: “This is the way and now the government is also recognising our traditional way of farming. It can save both the ecology and Earth.

“Indian Council of Agricultural Research is also praising us for promoting cow-based agriculture, which the government rejected 50 years ago when an RSS worker had proposed it,” Bhagwat added.

‘Change in crop genes not acceptable’

Bhagwat, without using the term genetically modified (GM) crops, said there are various ways to increase farmers’ income and they should be adopted.

“But it is not known what is the fallout of the change in genes of agricultural crops. We will not accept such change in genes for which many scientists are pressuring. Science doesn’t know all answers to change in genes, then how can we decide to adopt it? Politicians take populist decisions, science sees present, but here farmers have to decide what is good for them,” he added.

RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch has been continuously opposing Bt brinjal trials as they said it is against national interest. 

The organisation last month even urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt Bt brinjal trials in six states, saying that GM crops could hurt trade security and allow multinational corporations to monopolise the market.

‘Time is in Sangh’s favour’

Addressing the kisan sangh workers, Bhagwat energised them saying the time is now in their favour.

He, however, also cautioned RSS workers, saying that their efforts should not be limited to just expanding the organisation and their affiliates, but their aim should also be to fulfil big agendas.

“We have to do big work and we should remain grounded like Dattopant Thengadi. We have to always keep in mind how we have reached here due to the labour of thousands of RSS workers,” he added.