Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday asked the Centre to go for Constitutional amendments to ensure that residents of Jammu & Kashmir are completely assimilated with the rest of India.
This was an oblique reminder to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) promise to remove Article 370, which gives special status to the state.
While addressing the RSS’ annual Dussehra celebrations in Nagpur, Bhagwat said that necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed as the problems of the people, who were displaced from the Kashmir Valley, are yet to be addressed.
The programme was attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani.
Backing the Centre’s steps to deal with terrorism in the state, the RSS chief said that there has been considerable improvement as the security forces have been given full authority.
“Their (terrorists’) flow of money has been curtailed. But the problem has not been resolved fully and much more needs to be done,” he said.
He said that the displaced people are yet to get the benefits of a citizen. “They are here for three generations, yet they are not getting proper education and health care facilities. They do not have ration or Aadhaar cards. There is no improvement in the condition of Kashmiri Pandits who are devoid of their rights in their own country,” the RSS chief pointed out.
Bhagwat said that the prestige and pride of the country has increased and there is a feeling in the world that India is on the rise.
He also appreciated the government’s adept handling of the Doklam standoff, saying it was done with patience and without any compromise on the national pride. In an oblique reference to Pakistan, he said those forces which are creating trouble have been given a befitting reply on boundaries as well as on different international forums.
On the issue of infiltration, he said that the Central government should take steps to ensure national security. “We are already facing the problem of illegal Bangladeshi migration and now Rohingyas have infiltrated into our country from Mynamar. Giving shelter to Rohingyas will not only put pressure on our jobs, but will also pose a big threat to our national security,” he added.
On the economic situation, he said there are apprehensions in some quarters, but “I am hopeful that things will improve”. “If some bold steps are taken, there are bound to be some trouble. But the government should ensure that the small industries should not be affected as they are the backbone of the Indian economy,” he said.