Bhagwat was addressing RSS volunteers at the annual Vijayadashmi programme here.

Bhagwat observed that most Hindu temples in south India are controlled by the government. “Many temples in India are also run by trusts. In both the cases, we find instances of a good and bad management,” he said.

“Instances of misappropriation of movable and immovable properties of temples have come to light. Specific ceremonial guidelines and guiding texts apply to each temple and the deity residing therein. Instances of interference and meddling with those ceremonial matters have also been reported,” he further said.

He alleged, “It is apparent for all that many decisions regarding the religious code of conduct of the temples are whimsically made without any consultation with the scholars and spiritual teachers and with indifference towards the sensitivities of the Hindu community.”

“The injustices such as the exclusive appropriation of Hindu religious sites for decades and centuries, handing over of the operations to the non devotees/irreligious, unethical heretics despite the State being ‘secular’ must be expunged,” Bhagwat said.

“It is necessary and only reasonable that the operating rights of Hindu temples be handed over to the Hindu devotees and the wealth of the Hindu temples is utilised for the worship of the deities and the welfare of the Hindu community only,” Bhagwat demanded.

“Alongside this thought, it is also necessary to devise a scheme to once again make temples the epicentre of our social-cultural life while ensuring appropriate management and operation of the temples based on the strength of the Hindu society,” he added.

The RSS chief reiterated the demand for a population policy to correct the “growing demographic imbalance caused by differential population growth rates”. He said the population policy will be useful for the next 50 years as the current lot of young persons would grow old over the next 30 years.

“We will have to be sure of the needs of the population then and requirement of the young population necessary to take care of the older ones. But along with balance of population, we will also have to take care of the growing demographic imbalance being observed over the last few years.”

Reminding the government of the RSS resolution of 2015 in this regard, Bhagwat read out part of the resolution, saying, “In the present circumstances, news of persecution of native Hindus, growing criminalisation and a mounting pressure on them to escape their areas where an imbalanced population growth have surfaced. The violence that broke out following the elections of West Bengal and the pitiable condition of the Hindu people there can also be attributed to the appeasement of barbarous elements by the government and population imbalance.”

“Therefore, a policy that is applicable to all groups in the same fashion is imperative. The infiltrators must be deprived of citizenship,” Bhagwat demanded.

Bhagwat called for a balanced approach towards all the schools of medicine. “The traditional Indian health system doesn’t only treat illness but also envisions wellness. Our traditional lifestyle is wholly synchronous with nature and allows for the manifestation of cosmic intelligence,” adding, “every pathy has its own importance and we must evolve a health system which would envisage appropriate use of different systems of medicines whereever needed.”

Referring to Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Bhagwat said, “their predisposition – passionate fanaticism, tyranny and terrorism in the name of Islam – is sufficient to make everyone apprehensive of the Taliban. But now China, Pakistan and Turkey have coalesced in an unholy coalition with the Taliban. Our military preparedness on the borders needs to be alert and sound on all ends and at all times.”

The RSS chief also said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have started reaping the benefits of repeal of Article 370. “But extremists have started targeted violence to disturb peace and lower the public morale. Government must efficiently deal with them,” Bhagwat said. He, however, emphasised, “efforts must be done to win the hearts of the people.”

Bhagwat called for strict curb on the drug mafia. “We know to which countries the money from the drug trade can be traced. We must deal with it firmly,” he said.

The RSS chief referred to the contents on the OTT platforms, saying, “nobody has any control on it. Our children are watching it.” He specifically called for enhancing the cyber security regimen in the country.

Bhagwat called for an egalitarian society without any caste discrimination. “Our societal consciousness is still skewed with caste-based sentiments. As of today, the intellectual landscape of the country is far outnumbered by those who are acting contrary to the ones building bridges to promote dialogue and intimacy among people,” Bhagwat observed.

Bhagwat stressed use of own language wherever possible. “There is no opposition to English. It must be used wherever necessary. But we must also use our langauges wherever we can. Why shouldn’t we do our signatures in our own language,” Bhagwat asked.

Bhagwat said that India has led the fightback against coronavirus and the RSS has kept teams of 5-6 people ready in every village to fight the possible third wave of the disease.

He stressed on getting rid of single use plastic and increasing green cover in the country.

Bhagwat also sought to connect the recent success of Indian athletes in Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to the sense of elation (utsaha) caused by the coming up of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The sense of self is appearing to be on the rise in the country. Recently, it was seen when volunteers went about collecting donations for Ram Temple. The entire society irrespective of caste and geographical areas cooperated very well. That was due to once sentiment – that we have brought back something which belonged to us and we need to make it stand. All of them were not those praying Ram but all of them contributed and all of them were elated about them. That elation and confidence is also finding expression,” Bhagwat said and went on to discuss the Olympic success in the same vein.

Counting the number of medals in both events, Bhagwat asked, “Where has the enthusiasm behind this success come from. Clearly, they have now developed a sense of doing something for the country.”