Move beyond caste divides to build more inclusive India: Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that access to temples, water bodies, and cremation grounds should be equal for all communities. He emphasised that society must move beyond caste-based inequalities to build a more inclusive India.
Addressing over 400 volunteers during the regional 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg' camp at Deendayal Upadhyaya School in Nawabganj, Kanpur, Bhagwat said: 'The RSS's core aim is character-building, and that individuals must recognise their responsibilities not only to their families but also to the wider society, the nation, and humanity.'
Stressing that the Sangh has grown by deepening its roots in society, the RSS chief said the centenary year is a time to expand its work. The RSS is focusing on the 'Panch Parivartan' , which includes building a socially responsible, environmentally conscious and united society, free from divisions.
Bhagwat urged all volunteers to help carry RSS literature to every household, promote value-based living, and strengthen familial bonds. 'Every Hindu home should be rooted in values, so that the Sanatan tradition may thrive again,' he said.
Earlier in the day, Bhagwat attended the morning 'shakha' at the training camp and later met senior functionaries, including pracharaks, sanghchalaks, sah-pracharaks, and prachar pramukhs. Separate discussions were also held with regional office-bearers.
The RSS chief also highlighted the need to increase 'shakhas' in both urban and rural areas and encouraged provincial units to take responsibility for this expansion. Bhagwat, who arrived in Kanpur on Saturday afternoon, will be in the city till June 10.
RSS's second-in-command, Dattatreya Hosabale, had addressed the same camp for two days prior to Bhagwat's arrival. Another training camp is being held simultaneously at Meharban Singh ka Purwa, a known Samajwadi Party stronghold that has lately aligned with the BJP.
In his Sunday address, Bhagwat also focused on service initiatives in urban slums and urged volunteers to adapt their work according to local needs and conditions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
India to become world's largest Muslim country in..., population will cross..., Hindus will be...
India to become world's largest Muslim country in…, population will cross…, Hindus will be… Hindu-Muslim Population of India: According to a study that was published in 2015 by the United States-based Pew Research Center, the Muslim population in India is expected to increase to such an extent that it will become the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Currently, Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims. However, India's rapidly growing population, combined with a high growth rate of the Muslim community, may change the scenario soon. According to the report, by 2050 the total population of India will be 166 crores, in which the population of Hindus is expected to be 130 crores. The population of Muslims will be 31 crores by then. In 2050, the country's share in the total world's Muslim population will be 11 percent. This change will majorly impact demographics and consequently, social, cultural, and political discussions. How Many Hindus-Muslims Between 1951 And 2011? From 1951 to 2011, in India, the trend of population growth has witnessed a drastic change on the basis of religion. As per Pew Research's data, the fastest growth has been recorded in the Muslims of the country. In 1951, the population of Muslims in India was 3 crore 54 lakh, which has increased to 17.20 crore in 2011. A jump of 386 percent was recorded in the population of Muslims during this period. Between 1951 and 2011, the Hindu population grew from 300 million to 960 million, a 218% increase. This growth rate was significantly lower than that of the Muslim population. However, the Muslim population's rapid growth is tempered by a concurrently declining fertility rate. Over the same period, the Sikh and Christian populations increased by 235% and 232%, respectively. Decline In Fertility Rates The Pew Research Report also revealed that there has been a clear decline in the fertility rate in both Muslim and Hindu communities, a positive sign towards population stabilisation. If we look at the fertility rate among Muslims, the fertility rate of women was 4.4 percent in 1992-93, which recorded 2.3 in 2022. Meanwhile, a decline of 47 percent was recorded. The fertility rate of Hindu women was 3.3 in 1992-93, which became 1.9 in 2022, with a decline of 42 percent. Is Population Growth A Matter Of Social Concern? Analysis of religious population data reveals that the growth of the Muslim population in India is attributable to socioeconomic factors like access to education and wealth, rather than being a cause for political or social alarm. A consistent decline in fertility rates is observed across all religious groups. Consequently, India's population is projected to be multi-religious but increasingly socially homogenous by 2050.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Spirit of unity among Telugus paramount: CM
Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, while affirming that the Telugu community held a unique position in the country, urged leaders from the Telugu states to jointly work with a spirit of unity and togetherness to take Telugu to number one position in the country's growth. He was addressing a gathering at the release of the Telugu version of Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya's autobiography 'Prajala Kathe Naa Atmakatha' (The story of the people of Telangana is my autobiography) here on Sunday. Naidu recalled that Telangana was previously part of the Nizam State, while Andhra Pradesh was under the Madras Presidency. Initially, both regions were united as Andhra Pradesh. Eventually, they became two separate states: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, he emphasized the importance of unity, stating that "Telugu jathi okkate" (Telugus are one) should always be our guiding principle. He noted that while political parties may have differing opinions and some leaders may have delivered effectively during their tenure, the spirit of unity among Telugus remained paramount. The country's future looks promising under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just as the Jewish diaspora earned a name for itself in the world, "there is a need to take forward the Telugu people into a brighter future." For this, "we need to emulate the spirit of Bandaru Dattatreya," he observed. Striking a note of nostalgia at the event's venue, he recalled how efforts had been made to invite former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to inaugurate the HI-TEC City, adding Cyberabad district to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. However, while IT companies were housed in Cyberabad, "Silparamama and Silpakala Vedika were established to showcase the Telugu culture and traditions," he added. Naidu stated that Bandaru Dattatreya had endeared himself to everyone and exemplified the qualities of a true gentleman. The Chief Minister remarked that it took courage for a politician to declare that his story was the story of the people. This statement reflects a deep connection and bond with the community forged over decades of his life's journey. The Chief Minister stated that while Dattatreya might be associated with Hindutva, his true essence embodied the spirit of Bharatiya culture. He exemplified the unity in diversity that characterized our country. This quality had elevated him from an ordinary activist to a national-level leader. Reflecting on Dattatreya's contributions during the Emergency period and his dedicated service as an RSS pracharak during the Diviseema Cyclone, the Chief Minister acknowledged the numerous challenges he had faced throughout his journey. He brought the spirit of unity and diversity, launching the Alai Balai programme to bring leaders of all parties together and made him a friend of all without an enemy in the two Telugu states. His political life will be remembered as an ideal life, he noted. Naidu, recalling the foreward of PM Modi wrote to the book, said he held several positions in the party, MLA, MP, Union Minister, and governor of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. However, he remained an ordinary worker, he said. Naidu recalled that he had lost count of the letters Dattatreya had written to him when he was the chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. He earned the rare opportunity to work with great personalities in the Sangh and Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi, LK Advani, M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh, and Narendra Modi. However, he remained leading an ordinary life. Further, he noted how Dattatreya worked for the development of Hyderabad. Besides Union Minister Kishan Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. K Laxman, Tripura Governor, and former BJP state chief Indrasena Reddy contributed to the development of Hyderabad He said that the autobiography of Dattatreya, detailing life experiences of working in the southern and northern India would be an inspiration, setting an example to the people and future generations.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
SC dropped probe on Allahabad HC judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav after Rajya Sabha alert
The Supreme Court was preparing to initiate an in-house inquiry into Allahabad high court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav's controversial speech at a VHP event last year, but dropped the plan after receiving a categorical letter from the Rajya Sabha secretariat that asserted exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, people aware of the matter said. The people cited above confirmed that then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna had set the process in motion to assess whether the judge's conduct warranted scrutiny in the wake of an adverse report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice. However, the move was halted after the Rajya Sabha secretariat's letter in March underlined that the constitutional mandate for any such proceeding lies solely with the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and ultimately with Parliament and the President. This letter effectively stalled the judiciary's plan to initiate an in-house inquiry – an internal mechanism laid down through judicial precedents to examine complaints of misconduct against sitting judges of the superior judiciary, against Justice Yadav, whose comments at the VHP's December 8, 2024, event in Prayagraj drew widespread condemnation for violating the principles of secularism and judicial impartiality. HT reached out to the Rajya secretariat for a response on the next course of action but did not get one immediately. In February, Rajya Sabha chairman and vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar said that only Parliament and President have the jurisdiction over the matter 'The jurisdiction for the stated subject matter constitutionally lies in exclusivity with the chairman Rajya Sabha and in an eventuality with the Parliament and honourable President. Taking note of public domain information and inputs available, it is expedient that the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha shares this information with the Secretary General, Supreme Court of India,' he said in Parliament on February 13. Justice Yadav, addressing a gathering organised by the legal cell of the VHP within the Allahabad High Court Bar Association premises, made a series of incendiary statements that targeted the Muslim community and invoked majoritarian themes. In his speech, he reportedly asserted that 'India should function according to the wishes of the majority,' claimed 'only a Hindu can make this country a 'Vishwa Guru',' and linked practices such as triple talaq and halala to societal backwardness, calling for their abolition under the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Video clips of the speech, which went viral on social media, show him allegedly using derogatory communal remarks framed the UCC as a Hindu-Muslim binary, stating that while Hindu customs had evolved to address historical wrongs, Muslims had resisted reform. The speech triggered outrage among political leaders, jurists and civil society, with senior advocate Kapil Sibal leading a group of 55 opposition MPs in filing a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking Justice Yadav's impeachment for 'grave violation of judicial ethics.' The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) also demanded an in-house inquiry and his immediate suspension, citing a clear breach of the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997. Amid mounting criticism, the Supreme Court swiftly sought a report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice on December 10, 2024. A week later, on December 17, the apex court collegium, comprising CJI Khanna and Justices Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and Abhay S Oka, summoned Justice Yadav for a 30-minute closed-door meeting to ascertain whether his public comments violated the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct or judicial ethics outlined in internal codes. While Justice Yadav reportedly assured the collegium judges he would apologise publicly, he failed to do so in the weeks that followed. Instead, in a January 2025 letter to the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court, the judge doubled down on his remarks, claiming they had been misrepresented by vested interests and asserting that his speech reflected societal concerns 'consistent with constitutional values.' Appointed in 2019, Justice Yadav is set to retire on April 15, 2026. People cited above said that CJI Khanna subsequently sought a fresh report from the Allahabad High Court chief justice, referring to additional complaints against Justice Yadav from a law student and a retired IPS officer. But by then, an unexpected development complicated matters. In March 2025, the Supreme Court administration received a formal communication from the Rajya Sabha secretariat, informing it that the matter of Justice Yadav's conduct, arising out of the December 13 impeachment motion signed by 55 MPs, was already under active consideration. 'The court's secretary general brought the letter to the notice of the then CJI, who was clear that an in-house inquiry, being a non-statutory and internal mechanism, should not run parallel to a statutory process under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968,' a person familiar with the matter told HT. 'The Rajya Sabha's categorical assertion that it was seized of the matter prompted the judiciary to defer to the parliamentary process,' this person added. The Judges (Inquiry) Act mandates that a motion seeking removal of a High Court or Supreme Court judge for 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity' must be admitted by the presiding officer of the House concerned. To be sure, the Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has yet to decide on the admissibility of the motion and whether to constitute a formal inquiry committee. 'The idea was not to create constitutional friction or undermine parliamentary privilege…That's the sole reason why no in-house probe was set up despite the initial steps,' the person cited above added. Another person aware of the deliberations within the collegium said that all members were informed of the decision to halt the in-house inquiry after the receipt of the Rajya Sabha's letter. 'There was a kind of consensus that the matter, being under legislative scrutiny, should not be clouded by a simultaneous judicial process,' the person said. Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, continue to push for clarity on the status of the impeachment motion. Speaking to HT on condition of anonymity, a senior MP said last month that his party planned to raise the matter during the monsoon session. 'During the budget session, the chairman had said that he was assessing the veracity of the signatures on the notice. We would like to know the status of that notice notices have been given in both the Houses and it is imperative it should be taken up,' the lawmaker said. In his formal reply to the complaints, Justice Yadav reportedly maintained in January that he has done no wrong. He described his speech as an articulation of issues affecting society and claimed that his references were misconstrued. On the criticism of his previous judicial orders related to cow protection, he is said to have responded that these reflected India's cultural ethos and legal recognition of cow protection, not any form of judicial bias. Notably, Justice Yadav did not tender an apology in his correspondence, reinforcing his stance that his speech was neither communal nor violative of judicial conduct. He rather asserted that judges, who often face unfair attacks, deserve protection and support from senior members of the judiciary.
