RSS CHIEF FROWNS AT COW VIGILANTES

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s media outreach continued on Wednesday as he pitched for protection of cows, but disapproved of vigilantism and mob lynching. In the same breath, he also said: "We have to reject the double speak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers." His most profound statement was: ‘‘Cows should not be left open. Gau rakshaks should keep cows at their homes.”

CASTEISM: Spelling out the RSS ‘thinking’ on a host of prickly issues like caste, the RSS chief said, “We need to rise above such barriers. RSS does not believes in casteism. In today's Sangh, there is a representation of all castes and it can be seen everywhere, we are moving ahead.” If there was a "census" on intercaste marriages, he remarked, the maximum cases would be from the Sangh.

ON ENGLISH: Bhagwat said the Sangh was not opposed to any language, including English, but it should be given its proper place, suggesting it cannot replace an Indian language. "You should not be opposed to any language, including English, and it should not be removed," he said, adding, "We have no enmity with English. We need proficient English speakers."

SECTION 377: Even on homosexuality, his tone was conciliatory. "Everyone is a part of the society. Times have changed and these issues should not have been blown out of proportion.

Likewise, he was all for women empowerment and said that men should change the way they look at women.

IDENTITY: Everyone who lives in India is Hindu by identity, nationality. "All those who live in India are Hindu. They hesitate to say that. All people are our own. Our tradition is unity."