 "Outrage over live RSS address on state broadcaster")
The address, which was marked for its trenchant criticism of Western nations for their greed and expansionism (which, according to Bhagwat, is the primary cause of the creation of bodies such as the ISIS), was criticised strongly by the Left parties, which also oppose bodies such as ISIS and the role of the West in their creation.
“Self-centred collective greed gives rise to exploitation, suppression, violence and fanaticism. The basis of selfish interest by Western countries is fully responsible for a new incarnation of terror and fundamentalism that emerged in West Asia in the name of ISIS, which is terrorising the world,” Bhagwat said.
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He also called for a complete ban on cow slaughter and meat exports, and asked people to stop buying Chinese goods. He warned that ‘jihadi’activities were increasing in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and that illegal Bangladeshi immigration could become a danger to Hindu society in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar.
Later, after the speech, Modi endorsed the RSS chief’s observations and said: “Mohan Bhagwat-ji talked about important national issues in his speech. The issues of social reform that he raised are very relevant today.”
The Congress said the use of Doordarshan to air the views of a socio-cultural organisation smacked of discrimination against other organisations of the same description. Former minister Salman Khurshid told a news channel: “We do not accept the record of RSS as being above board in terms of our national aspiration. Influence over media channels is worrying. We don’t accept RSS’s record as above all aspirations.”
Rashid Alvi, the Congress spokesperson, said, “DD cannot be made an RSS mouthpiece.” Another Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit questioned the timing of the broadcast. The Communist Party of India (CPI) criticised the government over the telecast, calling it misuse of the public broadcaster for saffron propaganda. Party MP D Raja said the government, specifically the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, should give an explanation to the people for allowing DD to be the mouthpiece for the RSS. He said it was “a disquieting and distressing trend that the country’s secular and democratic values were undermined by the government action.”
The CPI(M) said, “This is misuse of the public broadcaster for saffron propaganda. The national public broadcaster has no business to telecast live the speech of the chief of an organisation like the RSS.”
“RSS used the public broadcaster to propagate its Hindutva ideology”, it said. Historian Ramachandra Guha said this “naked state majoritarianism” must be resisted. “This (showing it live) is a dangerous misuse of the state machinery. The RSS is a sectarian Hindu body. Next, imams in mosques and priests in churches may ask that DD covers their speeches live,” he said in his tweets.
Doordarshan Director General Archana Dutta defended the coverage by saying, “The speech was covered like any other news.”
Bhagwat batted frontally for the government, praising several initiatives it had taken.
He said people should give more time to the government for efficient execution of its policies. "We don't have a magic wand to change but the government seems committed," he said in the address.
Bhagwat said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US had sent positive signals and had ushered in a new enthusiasm among the people of the country. "A new ray of hope has entered the hearts of the people. The entire country is feeling proud of the visit and the subsequent talks with the US government," he said.
He also lauded the efforts of the Centre and volunteers of the RSS for undertaking rescue work in Jammu & Kashmir during the recent floods. While paying homage to those killed in the floods, Bhagwat said, "Our sympathies are with the families." The swiftness, efficiency and open-heartedness of the central government that has provided relief to the affected people deserved appreciation, he said.