Latest news with #Ambekar
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
RSS to skip invites to Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh embassies for centenary events
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will not extend invitations to the embassies of Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh for its 100th anniversary celebrations, though it is reaching out to other diplomatic missions it has been in touch with. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The list of invitees also includes representatives of minority communities, sports and cultural icons, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs from emerging fields such as Indian knowledge systems and start-ups. The highlight of the centenary year will be a three-day dialogue in Delhi from August 26, led by Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, focusing on the Sangh's century-long journey, its role in nation-building and its vision for 'new horizons.' Bhagwat's Delhi address will be part of a series of four major events in the run-up to the Vijayadashami centenary on October 2. Similar dialogues are scheduled in Bengaluru in November, Kolkata thereafter, and Mumbai. Each will feature two days of lectures by Bhagwat and a third day devoted to a pre-submitted question-and-answer session. The discussions will cover the Sangh's experiences over the past century, its core ideas, and its priorities for the coming decades. The Delhi programme will begin at 5.30 pm each day and will also delve into the 'Panch Parivartan' (Five Transformations) agenda of the centenary year. Bhagwat is expected to touch on issues such as India shaping its future on indigenous strengths rather than colonial-era benchmarks, unexplored capacities in various fields, and the country's evolving global role. According to RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar, the invitation list spans around 17 main categories and 138 sub-categories, including social, economic, religious, spiritual, sports, arts, media and intellectual leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Our aim is that the entire country should move forward together on its development journey. We want dialogue with all sections of society,' he said. Ambekar added that while outreach to some foreign missions is underway, certain countries will be excluded. 'We are in contact with many embassies, but in the current context Pakistan, will not be invited,' he said. According to RSS sources countries like Bangladesh and Turkey are also not going to be invited. The outreach also covers young innovators in technology, language promotion and entrepreneurship. He said over 1,000 pramukh nagarik goshtis (eminent citizen meetings) will be held across districts in addition to the flagship city events. 'Through these programmes we are trying to connect people from all walks of life, and we hope all types of people will participate in these discussions,' Ambekar added.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
RSS tries its hand at solving Manipur stalemate, weighs in on BJP chief's appointment
NEW DELHI: With Manipur gripped by ethnic violence since May 2023, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) says its volunteers have been working to ease tensions by facilitating dialogue between the state's two warring communities, the Kukis and the Meiteis. The Sangh, which is the BJP's ideological mentor, has also begun shaping internal conversations around the party's next national president and the long-delayed organisational overhaul. On Monday, the RSS released a statement highlighting its efforts to ease tensions in Manipur, asserting that peace is gradually returning to the state, which has been under President's Rule since February. A year ago, on June 10, 2024, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had drawn national attention to the Manipur crisis during a speech in Nagpur, urging that the situation be prioritised. This time, the organisation expressed optimism that the state is gradually showing signs of normalcy. Addressing the media in New Delhi, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said normalcy had begun to return to Manipur compared with last year. He said this was the beginning of peace and that dialogues were being held from both sides. Ambekar said RSS swayamsevaks were promoting talks between the Meitei and Kuki communities, and all the people, to foster a better atmosphere among them. "They are trying for this,' he added. Ambekar said the Sangh, along with various social and spiritual organisations, was working tirelessly for peace. 'The return of total normalcy will take some time... but the situation has improved,' he noted. He also reviewed the on-ground work of swayamsevaks and their efforts to promote social harmony. 'The work being done by the Swayamsevaks and the efforts being made for social harmony were also discussed. Owing to this, positive changes can be seen on the ground. Swayamsevaks are talking to both sides to bring the situation to a normal level,' he said.
Mint
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Peace returning to Manipur as our volunteers mediate Meitei-Kuki talks: RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers are making efforts to reduce tension in Manipur by promoting dialogue between the Meitei and Kuki communities, the RSS has said. The Sangh asserts that peace is gradually returning to the state, which has been embroiled in ethnic violence since May 2023. RSS national publicity and media department head Sunil Ambekar said delegates, who attended a three-day meeting of the 'prant pracharaks' here, shared information on the current situation in Manipur and 'positive' developments unfolding in the state. 'People from all over the country had come to attend the meeting. They also shared information on how 'swayamsevaks' (RSS volunteers) are trying to establish harmony there as quickly as possible, establish peace,' the senior RSS functionary told reporters on July 7, briefing on the outcomes of the meeting which concluded on Sunday. 'For this, they (RSS swayamsevaks) are promoting talks between their Meitei and Kuki communities, and all the people, so that there is a good atmosphere among them. They are trying for this,' he said. Ambekar said that the situation in Manipur has improved compared to last year. 'Many positive things came to light from their (delegates') experience. It will take some more time (for the situation to return to complete normalcy). But some positive news has been received through them (delegates who attended the RSS meeting),' he added. Replying to a question on the opposition's claim that there is no normalcy in the state, Ambekar said, "When conditions worsen anywhere, it does not get better in a day. But definitely, if we compare it with the previous years, peace has started returning to some extent. "The peace process has begun. The dialogues happening between the two sides will progress.' In a statement later, Ambekar said RSS volunteers are talking to 'both sides' (Meitei and Kuki) in their bid to restore normalcy in Manipur. 'Owing to this, positive changes can be seen on the ground,' he said. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre imposed President's rule in Manipur on February 13 after the then-chief minister, N Biren Singh, resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure until 2027, has been suspended. On the issue of "secular and socialist" words added to the Preamble of the Constitution during the Emergency also figured in the RSS 'prant pracharaks' meeting, Ambekar said that RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale recently expressed his views on the issue, recalling atrocities carried out on the 'people in jails and the Constitution' during Emergency. "The new generation should know about this," the senior RSS functionary said. The dialogues happening between the two sides will progress. 'The circumstances under which the Constitution was amended were not right. There was no democratic situation then. Therefore, there is no closed chapter in democracy. A debate should happen on issues. It's every generation's right," he told reporters. Key Takeaways RSS volunteers are actively promoting dialogue between conflicting communities to reduce tensions. The situation in Manipur has shown signs of improvement compared to previous years. Engagement and communication are crucial steps towards restoring normalcy in conflict-affected regions.
The Print
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Manipur moving toward peace, signs of normalcy visible: RSS
'But definitely compared to last year, normalcy has started returning to the state. The start of normalcy (peace) has begun. And slowly, the dialogue that is taking place between the two communities (Meitei and Kuki)… (constructive) paths will emerge from this,' Ambekar said during the press conference while describing how RSS workers were functioning on the ground in the state. Responding to a question on the state-of-affairs in the state, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS Sunil Ambekar said when a situation deteriorates somewhere things do not change overnight. New Delhi: Amidst ongoing concerns over the current situation in Manipur, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Monday said the state is witnessing normalcy returning gradually. Speaking to ThePrint later in the day, Ambekar said that since the beginning, RSS workers have been carrying out social work for the community while engaging in a dialogue with both sides. 'Sangh functionaries have been engaged in social work as well as being in a dialogue (samvad) as far as Manipur is concerned and things have improved in the past few months,' he added. Speaking to ThePrint, an RSS functionary said the organisation has been carrying out several outreach initiatives to engage diverse sections of society. Manipur witnessed prolonged unrest following the outbreak of violence in May 2023. The ethnic conflict has claimed over 200 lives and displaced over 60,000 people. It has led to a complete segregation of the two main communities in the state—predominantly the Meiteis and the Kukis. While the Kukis have fled the Imphal Valley, where the Meiteis live, the latter have left their homes and fled from the hills, where the Kukis live. The deteriorating law and order situation led the Centre to impose President's Rule in February this year. The state assembly, though, was not dissolved but put in suspended animation for 6 months. The President's Rule remains in effect till 12 August. If a government is not installed by then, the Centre can extend it for a maximum of 3 years with parliamentary approvals every 6 months. Highlighting the plan and programmes for the centenary year of the RSS, Ambekar said such issues were discussed in the 'Pranth Pracharak' meeting held from 4 to 6 July. 'During the centenary year, Hindu conferences will be organised at the mandal level in rural areas and the colony level in urban areas with the participation of all sections of the society. At present, there are 58,964 mandals and 44,055 colonies in the country as per the Sangh Rakhshan. In Hindu conferences, topics like festivals of the society, social unity and harmony, and Panch-Parivartan will be discussed,' Ambekar said. Similarly, social harmony meetings will be organised in 11,360 blocks/cities to promote harmony in the society. 'Major citizen seminars will be organised in 924 districts of the country. Topics like India's idea, India's pride, India's self, etc., will be discussed in the seminars,' he added. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: MHA resumes talks with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups after 2 yrs to discuss 'way forward', renewal of SoO pact
Economic Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Primary education should be in mother tongue: RSS
The RSS considers all languages of India as national languages and feels that primary education should be imparted in the mother tongue, RSS' publicity-in-charge Sunil Ambekar said on Monday. Addressing a press conference on the conclusion of the pranth pracharak meeting of the Sangh here, Ambekar said: "All languages of India are national languages; this has always been the Sangh's position. We should speak in our own language, and primary education should be in the mother tongue."Ambekar's remarks came amid the political row that erupted in Maharashtra after the state's BJP-led Mahayuti government issued a notification mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language for classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi-medium schools. Following the political backlash, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis withdrew the government resolution on the three-language policy and announced the setting up of a committee to recommend the implementation of a three-language formula. On Manipur, Ambekar said RSS volunteers were actively working to restore peace and foster dialogue among various communities affected by the conflict. He said notable positive developments have been observed, but achieving complete normalcy would require more time. Talking about the Sangh's outreach programmes during its centenary year, Ambekar said RSS will reach out to every village, locality and house in the country during the year. He said Hindu sammelans will be organised in 58,964 mandals and 44,055 bastis across the country where social festivals, social unity and harmony would be discussed.
