Do reforms but ensure economic stability, employment: Bhagwat

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], Sep 30 (ANI): Just two days after senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha's scathing attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government's economic policy, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said that the government should reform the economic policy and urged the economic advisers to come out of old economic 'isms' and present solutions based on ground reality of the nation.

Criticizing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, Sinha on Thursday had described the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1 as the second major blow to the Indian economy after demonetisation.

He also said that the BJP can no longer blame the Congress for the "mess", since the Narendra Modi regime has been in power and office for more than three years.

Bhagwat, while delivering the annual Vijaya Dashami speech at the RSS's headquarters in Nagpur, said, "We need an economic policy that takes care of all big, small and medium enterprises, farmers etc. It is because of this sector that we have survived economic meltdowns in the past. We should ensure that these sectors are least affected. We should have reforms but we should ensure the stability to these sectors."

Referring to the unemployment in the country, which has become the opposition Congress Party's big point of attack on the Modi government, Bhagwat said "Employment for every hand and remuneration for sustainable livelihood is a major consideration for us. The government should encourage people to adopting entrepreneurial skills and support them. This way we can ensure economic progress."

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has lambasted on the central government for failing to provide job opportunities to the unemployed youth, which is one of the major threats to the growth of the nation.

"The central question is how India gives its people jobs. If you, as a modern country, are unable to give your people jobs, it's very difficult to give them a vision. Everyday nearly 30,000 new youngsters come into job market, but only 450 jobs are being provided today," Rahul Gandhi had said while addressing students at the Princeton University recently.

Yashwant Sinha had also said, "Today, people want to get jobs. But if you ask anyone, he will say, there is no job".

Calling for an integrated policy for safeguarding the interests for all sections of the society to ensure economic progress, Bhagwat said "Our Niti Aayog and economic advisers of the states will have to come out of the same old economic 'isms', and will have to integrate the most up-to-date economic experiences with the ground reality of our nation,"

"All policies and standards need rethinking, unique models of development based on the needs of our nation. Economic advisers will have to come out of old economic 'isms' and present solutions based on ground reality of our nation. Employment for every hand and remuneration for sustainable livelihood is a major consideration for us. The government should encourage people to adopting entrepreneurial skills and support them. This way we can ensure economic progress," RSS chief said.

On the Rohingya issue

Cautioning government against providing asylum to Rohingyas, RSS chief said that Rohingya and Jihadi elements are interlinked.

"The links between Rohingya and Jihadi elements are coming to light. If such elements come to India, they may have an impact on our security situation. Why do the Rohingya want to come to India? We need to study their background," Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat also accused the governments of West Bengal and Kerala of indulging in petty politics by lending a helping hand to the anti-national forces.

"The state governments of Kerala and West Bengal seem to be lending a helping hand to the anti-national forces for petty political interests. Jihadi forces are active there. We have been facing problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and now Rohingyas have infiltrated into our country. Any decision regarding Rohingyas should be taken by keeping in mind threat to national security. We have not even completely solved problem of Bangladeshi intrusion when problem of Myanmar has been heaped on us," he said.

In view of ongoing violence in Rakhine State of Myanmar, which has triggered an outflow of Rohingya Muslims, various security arrangements have been put in place across the region to prevent infiltration of illegal immigrants.

Praised Modi govt. for resolving Doklam diplomatically

Lauding the Narendra Modi government's diplomacy for handling the Doklam issue, Bhagwat said that "it had helped India to attain new heights of diplomacy in the international arena."

"India has demonstrated its strong determination to protect its borders in response to the activities of Pakistan on the Western front and that of China on the Northern front," Bhagwat said in his address.

"Bharat's strong and determined stand has been visible in incidents like Doklam, on the borders as well as in international diplomacy. This definitely makes us realise about our strength, and at the same time, provides new international standing to Bharat," Bhagwat added.

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a tense border stand-off for over two months at Doklam, near the Sikkim-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction, but on the afternoon of August 28, both China and India agreed for expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site.

Big praise to the Security forces

Hailing the security forces, Bhagwat said, "The determination with which terrorist infiltration and firing from across the border is being dealt with is highly commendable and the ruling BJP government is giving a fitting reply to infiltration by giving freedom to the security forces to do their duty."

"The provocative actions, propaganda and subversive activities of the separatist elements are being curbed by closing off their illegal economic resources and exposing their links with anti-national forces," Bhagwat declared.

Hinted Constitutional amendments on J&K

While lauding the armed forces' efforts in dealing with militancy and ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Valley, Bhagwat also said, much still needed to be done to bring the state to the mainstream.

"For this just work, necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed. Then and then only, the residents of Jammu and Kashmir can be completely assimilated with rest of Bharat and their equal cooperation and share will be possible in the national progress," Bhagwat said in an apparent references to Articles 370 and 35(A) of the Constitution.

While Article 370 gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35(A) defines the state's permanent residents and their special privileges.

Condemned linking of Gau Raksha with violence

Condemning the linking of Gau Raksha with violence, Bhagwat stated that the cow-protection issue "goes beyond religion" and attacking people in its name is not acceptable.

"It is reprehensible that some people have been killed allegedly by Gau Rakshaks. In fact, violence of any form is reprehensible. At the same time, many people have been killed by cow smugglers. We must look at the issue of cow protection beyond religion," says Bhagwat.

Bhagwat said, "Cows are used more for its urine and dung than milk in our country. For a small farmer to progress, rearing of the cow is a must. Protecting cow and cow-based agriculture is directed by the constitution. Rearing of the cow is not a matter of religion. I know many Muslims involved in rearing and protection of cows. Many Muslims have sacrificed their life for Gau Raksha."

Bhagwat ended his speech by quoting Sister Nivedita, who had said, "Samaj is the strength of the family: the home is behind the civic life and the civic life sustains the nationality. We have the essentials of all four elements among us, in our ancient Dharma but we have allowed much of their consciousness to sleep. We have again to realize the meaning of our own treasure."

Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart L. K. Advani, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the Vijayadashami rally organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI