RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat raises concern on surge in jihadi activities, Naxal threat

Voicing concern over upsurge in jihadi activities across the country especially in Southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the RSS on Friday said the nation is yet to see the impact of an effective policy to curb such threats to national security.

Addressing the annual Dusshera gathering in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said extremist groups have presented a serious threat to internal national security.

"There is no visible reduction in smuggling of rare minerals from Southern coast (Kerala and Tamil Nadu). The population imbalance in West Bengal and Kerala has been caused by illegal migration of a particular community from across the national border. The ruling parties in those states have adopted a 'near surrender policy' and that has led to serious threat to the life of local population besides law and order situation as well as national security," Bhagwat said.

"The nation has yet to see the impact of joint plan of Central and State government in putting effective checks on these jehadi and Naxal activities," he said.

Bhagwat rued that countrymen were providing shelter and employment to illegal migrants (infiltrators).

The social situations causing exploitation of poor and lack of development finally help Naxals in recruiting the poor youth as their cannon fodder, he noted. The veteran RSS man also criticised those helping migrants in getting ration cards and voter identify cards.

"We need a vigilant government, strong defence policy, a brave and efficient defence force to ensure the security of the nation. Moreover, we need a society of people who are patriotic, vigilant and of high moral character.The discourse in the society should be such that the morale of armed forces and government is enhanced," Bhagwat said.

He said the Army was short of 23,000 officers and therefore it was "our duty to provide sufficient number of capable youths as soldiers and officers". Raising the 'Swadeshi' pitch, he advocated self reliance and encouragement of entrepreneurship among countrymen and called for consumption of indigenous products.

"Our tendency of buying imported daily products, and foreign-made idols for worship needs to be abandoned," he said. He also strongly demanded a ban on export of animal-meat particularly beef.

"Today, old parents are sent to old-age homes and old animals (cow) are sent to slaughter houses," he noted.