Oppn lashes out at Bhagwat’s remarks at Hindu Congress Celebrate India: Naidu to diaspora
NAGPUR/NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks over the consolidation of Hindus invited criticism from Opposition parties on Saturday, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav defended the statement.
Speaking at the second World Hindu Congress in the United States on Friday, Bhagwat had said Hindus had no aspiration of dominance and the community would prosper only when it worked as a society.
“If a lion is alone, wild dogs can invade and destroy the lion. We must not forget that,” the RSS chief had said.
Attacking Bhagwat over his remarks, All India Majlis-e-ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the RSS was demeaning others.
“The RSS is trying to demean people by calling others dogs and assuming themselves as the tiger,” Owaisi said.
Meanwhile, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar said, “I condemn this ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Mohan Bhagwat that he has referred to Opposition parties in the country as dogs.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The ideology of RSS and BJP is anti-hindu and they only know how to do caste politics. The day they stop dividing Hindus on the basis of caste, every Hindu and people from WASHINGTON: Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday urged the Indian diaspora in the United States not to “forget your mother and the motherland” and participate in the India growth story while abiding by the laws of their adoptive country.
“In America, you must follow American rules, customs, regulations and systems and you have to be loyal citizens of the country where you are living,” the vice-president said switching to english from a speech largely delivered in Telugu to members and representatives of 21 Telugu associations based in the US.
“That is a duty,” he went on to say. But “while doing that duty don’t forget the mother and the motherland and manu samskriti (manu culture).”
The vice-president is in the US on a two-day visit to deliver the closing remarks at the second World Hindu Congress at Chicago, Illinois, to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893. His speech is scheduled for later Sunday.
Naidu complimented the community for their achievements in chosen professions and urged them to participate in India’s growth. “I would like all of you to join in fast-tracking India’s growth story,” he said.
The entire world is “looking towards India”, he said.
“All ratings (credit rating agencies) are doing datings (sic) with India,” he said to laughter and applause.
“I was minister for urban development till recently. Thirty-five to 40 Ambassadors met me. They all wanted to invest in India,” Naidu said, detailing the impact of reforms and changes. Enumerating the ways in which overseas Indians could help the country, he suggested that they could each adopt a village and develop it .
The vice-president urged them to always remain rooted to India’s rich cultural heritage and traditions while assimilating the best practices from around the world.
“We need to celebrate our festivals and uphold our customs,” he said, according an english translation released by his office. Speaking of himself, the vice-president said he is out of politics but not out of public life. And he wants to focus on the youth and know their aspiration and motivate them. And his second “target” is science, research and universities.