Hindustan Times (Patiala)

RSS gives the thumbs-up to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas

- Smriti Kak Ramachandr­an smriti.kak@hindustant­imes.com

The Modi- Government’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka-Vikas’ (collective efforts, inclusive growth) mantra got an endorsemen­t from the Rashtriya Swayamseva­k Sangh (RSS), the ideologica­l fount of the BJP on Sunday, putting to rest speculatio­n of disagreeme­nts within the Parivaar (family).

Delivering the 7th Nanaji Deshmukh memorial lecture in the Capital, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat underlined the need for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas as the hallmark of good governance.

“Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is dharma (way of life), no one is our enemy all are our own. There are people in this world who are our enemies, we will do whatever it takes to save ourselves from them, but we will not consider anyone our enemy and attack anyone,” he said.

The RSS chief’s statement comes in the wake of concerns among some sections of the minorities about the growing footprint of the Sangh and the BJP; particular­ly in UP, where the party has appointed, Yogi Adityanath, considered a hardline Hindutva proponent as CM.

Collective efforts, inclusive growth has been a poll plank for the Modi government since it came to power in 2014 at the Centre and has since wrested as many as 10 states.

The only caveat in his speech, was the caution that developmen­t must be inclusive. He said developmen­t must be ushered in a way that the rich do not lose to benefit the poor nor do the rich benefit at the cost of the poor.

Opposition parties have often dubbed the BJP government as pro-rich and accused it of extending benefits to big industrial­ists. They cite continued agrarian crises and farmers’ suicides as examples of the government ignoring the poor.

On the clash between opting for developmen­t at the cost of environmen­t, he said, the government has to find a balance the two and pushed for developmen­t that would create jobs instead of taking them away.

 ??  ?? Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Bhagwat

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