Palakkad, Sept 02: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said on Monday it has no objection to collecting data on specific communities or castes, provided that the information is used for their welfare and not exploited as a political tool for electoral gains, even as it condemned the incident of violence against a female doctor in West Bengal and said there was a necessity for revisiting laws and penal actions to expedite swift justice for women who suffer atrocities.Dismissing that there was any lack of coordination among Sangh-inspired organisations, including the BJP, the Sangh also said that it remains committed to its core principle – ‘nation first’.
Addressing the media here after a three-day national coordination conclave called Samanway Baithak in this district, Sunil Ambekar, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, said caste and caste-relations were a “very sensitive issue” for the Hindu society and it is an important issue “for our national unity and integrity”.
He was responding to a query on caste census.
So, it should be dealt with “very seriously” and not just on the basis of elections or politics.
“So, as RSS thinks, yes, definitely for all welfare activities, addressing to the particular community or caste which is lagging behind and so special attention is needed to some communities and caste. So, for that the government needs the numbers. It is very well practiced. So, the government needs numbers, it takes. Earlier also it has taken. So, it can take it. No problem.”
“But it should be only to address the welfare of the those communities and caste. It should not be used as a political tool for electioneering. And so we put with a caution line for everyone,” Ambekar said.
Ambekar’s statement comes amidst campaigning by the opposition parties– the Congress, Samajwadi Party and other INDIA bloc allies, seeking to hold a caste census for effective policymaking.
Describing the incident in West Bengal as ‘very unfortunate’ and ‘alarming’, Sunil Ambekar, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, said on Monday that self-defence skills for ‘atmaraksha’ (self-protection) should be imparted to girls at the school and college levels, as well as to working women, to empower them to protect themselves from such attacks.
He said there was a necessity for revisiting laws and penal actions to expedite swift justice for women who suffer atrocities.
In response to a question about whether the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita’s provisions address this issue, Ambekar stated that the justice process should be expedited, rather than being unduly prolonged.
The incident of the rape and killing of the 31-year-old female doctor at the Kolkata hospital was discussed in detail in the Baithak, he said.
Ambekar said it was a “very unfortunate incident” and “alarming” and “everybody is worried about it”.
Noting that similar incidents were increasing in the country, he said that the meeting discussed the role of the government, official mechanism, laws, penal actions and procedures.
“All they find that there is a need for revisiting all these so that we can have proper procedure, fast-track procedures and we can deliver justice to the victim.”
Ambekar said that the conclave has concluded that the issue can be addressed on five fronts– legal, public awareness, family values (sanskaras), education, and ‘atmaraksha’ – self-defence skills.
“Such training (self-defence skills) is also necessary at the school and college levels, as well as for working women,” Ambekar said.
The conclave also observed that constant exposure to content from various media platforms, including OTT platforms, TV, and digital media, contributes to the rising incidents of violence against women.
“In many cases, it has been observed that those involved in such violent acts had been watching such content for long hours,” he said.
A woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, and a civic volunteer was arrested.
Reacting to a query on the demand for imposing President’s rule in West Bengal, the RSS stated that it is a decision for the government to make, but noted that it is not a very democratic way to destabilize a government.
Ambekar, however, said that any democratic government should be held accountable by the people to govern in accordance with the law and address public grievances.
Ambekar also said that as the Sangh completes 100 years, it remains committed to its core principle – ‘nation first’.
He was replying to a query about whether there was a lack of coordination among Sangh-inspired organisations, including the BJP.
“RSS is completing 100 years (in 2025). So it is a long journey,” he said.
Ambekar said in this journey, one thing that has remained constant was its commitment to nation first.
“This has been our approach, and every swayam sevak has believed in it,” he said after concluding the three-day national coordination meeting of RSS-inspired organisations here.
Ambekar said that in a long journey, functional matters inevitably arise, but the organisation has a mechanism to overcome these issues.
“We have both formal and informal meetings that take place regularly,” Ambekar said.
“If you look at our 100-year history, that in itself is the answer to these questions,” he added.
Asked about BJP president J P Nadda’s statement during the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls that the party has grown from the time it needed the RSS and is now capable of running its own affairs, Ambekar said, “Other issues will be resolved. This is a family matter.”
To a question whether all is well in the family, he replied, “Of course.”
