Bengaluru: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Friday said that there were forces “challenging national unity” by creating a north-south divide, and pushing for resistance against the imminent delimitation exercise.
Speaking at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha in Bengaluru, Sah Sarkaryavah C.R. Mukund said that this divide is an area of concern for members of the organisation.
“Another concern for our organisation and all our pratinidhis (representatives) here is about the forces that are challenging national unity, especially the rising north-south debate, whether it is about delimitation, languages.”
“So, our volunteers and functionaries of different organisations related to our vichar parivaar (ideological family), we are trying our best to bring harmony, especially in southern states,” Mukund said.
The statements come a day ahead of a meeting, hosted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai, of leaders and parties from several states to discuss delimitation and how it will reduce the representation of several states, especially in the south, in the Lok Sabha.
Stalin and his counterparts from non-BJP states are mobilising support to pushback against central policies, which they believe, are detrimental to them, including the alleged imposition of Hindi, declining share in central taxes, and a general perception of neglect under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, said that the opposition to the language, delimitation, and other issues was “politically motivated”.
Mukund reiterated the assurances made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Coimbatore last month.
“While it is not the RSS’s place to speak on the Centre’s decisions, we believe that our Union home minister has already clarified that the ratio of MP seats will be maintained”
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‘No resolution on language’
He added that there were other issues on language that were being propped up to create discord.
“For example…having the symbol of rupee in a local language… These things could be addressed not by political leaders. I would say, social leaders have come together; social groups have to come together. It’s not good for the country to quarrel among ourselves.”
He added, “Yes everyone has to be given justice, Sangh is for that… but that could be resolved harmoniously.”
The Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government was criticised for using a Tamil ‘Rupee’ symbol in its state budget amid the row on Hindi imposition. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed it as “regional chauvinism” and said that it “undermines national unity”.
At Stalin’s meeting Saturday, discussions are also likely to take place over the controversial “three-language formula” in schools under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Mukund said that the RSS has not passed a resolution on if there should be a two-language or three-language policy.
He added that the RSS believes that all daily activities should be carried out in the “matru basha” or mother tongue, adding that there should be regional market language to conduct daily transactions.
“It is a daily market language. If I live in Tamil Nadu, I have to learn Tamil. If I live in Delhi, I should learn Hindi because I have to converse with the local people or market,” he said. The last category, he said, was a “career language” which could be English.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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