Even though Congress and Left parties criticised RSS Chief’s Mohan Bhagwat’s speech aired on Doordarshan but BJP leaders defended it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar backed the issues raised by Bhagwat and said that it is relevant. Modi also extended his good wishes to all Swayamsevaks. Javadekar instead took a jibe at Congress and questioned the suppression of Hindu voice during its reign.
Mohan Bhagwat lauded the initiative taken by Modi government to improve the international relations and national security in six months. Hinting at the United States, Bhagwat said that some countries wish to realise their economic interests and are ‘expanding their empires’ in the name of globalization.
Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “When all the channels were covering Bhagwatji’s speech how can one channel be prevented from telecasting when it was a newsworthy event and crores of people want to witness it. Doordarshan has not done anything wrong with this telecast. Instead of raising questions about the telecast a true nationalist must ask why such events were not broadcast before.”
He also made indirect reference towards Congress and said that during their regime the voice of Hindus was always suppressed and RSS was treated as an extremist organisation neglecting all the good work they had done for the society and mankind.
Leaders like Devendra Fadnavis who had originated from the Sangh were seen wearing RSS ganvesh (uniform) for the first time. Gadkari was seen in the RSS uniform on several occasions. He is known as the blue-eyed boy of the outfit and also is a minister of the Modi govt. Gadkari was favoured by the RSS as he had served as a PWD minister and now is the Union Minister for Transport and Rural Development.
ABVP state president Prakash Belawde said, “For the first time, I felt that youth is inspired to do something for the nation related to Swachh Bharat, protecting the humanity and save cow. Earlier also I had attended several rallies but this time it was about reinvigorating the youth power.”
Paresh Joshi, Co-Convener, BJP IT cell Pune said, “Mohan Bhagwat is a philanthrophist who possess vast knowledge about socio-economic developments of the country. He is also a teacher and guide to many of us and vocal about praising Modi’s achievements. Yesterday, he spoke about Modi’s US visit and also about the neglected old age problems. Bhagwatji gave a clear message that both cow and old age people are neglected in our society and it’s high time that they need to be guarded.”
BJP’s leader of the opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Vinod Tawde said, “The officials of Doordarshan should decide what content should be aired on their channel. I can’t make further comment about this issue.”
Congress MLA Amin Patel said, “The activities of the nationalised party are being hijacked by the national channel. BJP being projected in the national channel is not in the interest of the country.”
