RSS to pass resolution against caste discrimination at top meeting in Nagaur

Nagaur: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is set to pass a resolution on caste discrimination and social harmony in the annual meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha beginning on Friday in Nagaur near Jodhpur.

The resolution seeks to address the sense of unease within the Sangh after the suicide of Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula and the Haryana Jat agitation.

It will invoke the famous speech of the third RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras on 's speech on caste discrimination and untouchability. The RSS will use the occasion to give a call to its worker in particular and the country at large to shun caste discrimination.

"Caste-based discrimination present in our country should be abolished. There should be harmony in our social conduct. Our resolution will highlight this social evil and will call upon people to play a constructive role in curbing it," Manmohan Vaidya, All India Prachar Pramukh of RSS, said.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will attend the first day of the three-day conclave and it will be presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Though quite strident on the nationalism debate in the aftermath of the Jawaharlal Nehru University controversy, both RSS and BJP have found it difficult to negotiate their way if the goalposts are shifted to a different pitch when caste tends to dominate the discourse.

While RSS believe that it has been able to successfully trigger a debate on its percept of nationalism post the JNU saga but a wider impact of such a discourse can get limited to only certain sections of the society in the backdrop of the Hyderabad Central University issue.

The RSS meet will also pass a resolution on the state of education in the country. The resolution comes as a precursor to the new education policy in the offing.

"Education today has become costlier. Quality of education is also suffering due to privatisation. Therefore, combined efforts of the society and governments are needed to ensure quality education for all," Vaidya said.

The HRD Ministry has already set up an independent committee headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanyam seeking recommendations on the subject.

The third resolution at the RSS will be on access to health facilities to all, especially to the marginalised.

RSS representatives from all over the country will be participating at the meeting.

(With additional information from PTI)