Journalism of Courage
Day two of the RSS-BJP coordination meet saw senior RSS functionaries question the BJP-led government over its “inability” to control the escalating tension on the India-Pakistan border and internal security situation in the country.
The RSS leadership was also learnt to have conveyed to the government its apprehension over the failure of the J&K government in checking the growing influence of separatists in the Valley.
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Earlier this year, BJP had joined hands with PDP to form the government in J&K. But RSS on Thursday seemed worried about the party’s failure to control its ally, the PDP, in the state.
Leaders of RSS and its affiliated groups held detailed discussions with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Manohar Parrikar on internal security with special focus on Jammu and Kashmir and the Maoist threat. While Singh explained how the government was dealing with the security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, RSS leaders spoke about rehabilitation of civilian victims of Pakistan shelling.
In the second half, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani made her presentation on the education policy. Irani told RSS leaders the government planned to implement the new education policy from the village level.
She also presented a plan to bring gradual changes in education system from school to university level. During a five-hour discussion with Irani, RSS suggested having a 10-13 year plan for primary education in regional languages. It also reportedly asked for the inclusion of ancient Indian science and vedic maths in syllabus. The Sangh apparently asked Irani to work towards ending Left influence in education.
The FTTI row also figured in the discussion, with RSS leaders claiming that the protests were limited to one institute and were nothing to get flustered about. On the day’s deliberations, RSS Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya tweeted: “RSS Samanvay Baithak today discussed scenario of national security (internal and external) besides national education scenario.”
The RSS leadership also asked the government to take Hindu migrants from Bangladesh as refugees and adopt a stronger position on the Arunachal Pradesh border issue with China. The government, sources claimed, earned kudos for the Naga peace agreement.
