Tipnis asks RSS to stand as bulwark against fundamentalism
Lt Gen Rawat of Uttarakhand Joins BJP

Indian Express Thursday June 7, 01:36 AM

Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis (retd) has called upon the Rashtriya Swayasevak Sangh(RSS) to be a bulwark against forces of fundamentalism and communalism and change itself keeping fresh Indian realities in mind.


"The Preamble to the Constitution and the declaration of citizens' Fundamental Rights assure to each and everyone of us liberty of faith and worship. How is it then that places of worship have been attacked and desecrated? How is it that the family of a foreign missionary engaged in laudable humanitarian work was attacked with murderous violence? The RSS can render great service by standing up as a bulwark against forces of fundamentalism, communalism and religious prejudice and intolerance," Tipnis said at an RSS function here on Tuesday.
He said that despite an inspiring Constitution, the country was full of overt and hidden violence. It was reflected in the organised attacks on minorities, Dalits and tribals, and also on the majority. There was the need for a social organisation to carry the torch of non-violence and communal harmony and to find non-violent solutions to problems.
"I urge the RSS to take note of Indian realities and find ways to respond constructively to them without causing alarm or apprehension in any section of the society," Tipnis said while calling on the Sangh to play a role in fighting corruption and pioneer a civic movement to ensure public cleanliness. "The RSS, I believe, is a dynamic organisation and I hope it is reviewing its agenda regularly to ensure that it addresses the existing challenges and not those of yesteryear," he said.
Speaking at the function, RSS chief K S Sudershan called for altering the statute to base it on "Indian realities". "Ambedkar himself had said in 1953 that he would have burnt the Constitution if he had his wish. The statute is based on the Government of India Act of 1935 which was a tool of British exploitation of India. There is no harm in changing the Constitution. France is having its fifth constitution," Sudershan said.
"We first divided the nation into various states and then reunited as a nation under the Constitution. We adopted an election system that has led to division of the society along caste lines. The Western model of economy based on struggle for existence and survival of the fittest was adopted. We need to adopt the Hindu model that takes care of weaker sections, protection of nature and individual duties. Also, it is due to basic Constitutional problems that we can't take action against Naxalites whom every state tackles in its own way rather than putting up a united fight," the RSS chief said.
He said the RSS had always been protective of Dalits, tribals and the oppressed classes, but Christian missionaries and Communists had been instigating them against their own brethren. "Missionaries were alluring tribals to convert. Today, symbols of Hindu pride like Ram temple, Ram Setu are being attacked. Hence Hindus need to become strong," he said.

Lt Gen T P S Rawat quits Congress

Dehradun, June 07: In a setback to Congress in Uttarakhand, senior party leader Lt Gen (Retd) T P S Rawat today resigned from his Dhumakot Assembly seat, raising speculation that he would join BJP. Rawat has tendered his resignation and Speaker Harbans Kapoor has accepted it, Vidhan Sabha Secretary Mahesh Chandra said. notification in this regard is also being issued, he said.
The resignation of Rawat, a former state Tourism Minister, also raised speculation that he is vacating his seat for Chief Minister B C Khanduri to enable him to be elected to the assembly. BJP sources said that if Khanduri contests from Dhumakot, then the party would field Rawat from Pauri Lok Sabha seat which is presently being represented by the Chief Minister. Rawat was not immediately available for comments. With the resignation of Rawat, the strength of Congress has come down to 18 in the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly.
At present, BJP has a strength of 35 in the house which is one less than the figure for a simple majority. The sources said that Khanduri has left for New Delhi to meet the party's central leadership. "The Chief Minister has gone to New Delhi. All his engagements for today and tomorrow have been cancelled," an aide to Khanduri said.