PANAJI
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday reiterated the 'India is a Hindu Rashtra' stance even as he asked the audience to join and experience the organisation, its work and thought process to unify society and make India a world leader nation (Vishwaguru).
Bhagwat who is in Goa for the last couple of days was addressing a public meeting organised by the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Campal.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, his cabinet colleagues, some MLAs and Union Minister of State, Shripad Naik, who are known to be associated with the RSS were in attendance at the rally.
What raised eyebrows, however, was the prominent presence at the rally of some neo-BJP politicians in full RSS fatigues, including TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and his MLA-wife Dr Deviya, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Mormugao MLA, Sankalp Amonkar.
Pictures of these politicos in RSS fatigues at the rally were the subject of multiple memes which went viral on social media platforms.
Bhagwat meanwhile, suggested in his speech that only by strengthening society, can good things happen in the nation.
"We need to achieve this goal. We need to take it ahead, not to strengthen the RSS, but the nation," Bhagwat said.
He also said, although there were people of different religions and linguistic groups living in the country, India is still a Hindu nation even as he claimed that it’s the mission of the Sangh to unify the country.
"We want to connect all into a single force," he said, as he appealed people not associated with the Sangh to join it.
"You can leave whenever you wish but experience the Sangh for a year or two... Know the Sangh well," he said, adding that there will be freedom to make your own decision.
He also said society needs to be strengthened to achieve the goal of becoming a global leader-nation (Vishwaguru) while pointing out that since independence the country's progress is wedded to the progress of its society.
