RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (file photo)
New Delhi: When the minority community in the country faces life-threatening intimidation and subjugation on religious lines on a daily basis, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that "India has begun its journey of progress, and it cannot stop now," has created confusion about what he really meant by "progress."
His statement made corroborative links in a more warning tone with other remarks he made during a speech addressing a gathering of saints in Haridwar, according to a report published in The Indian Express.
He claimed that Swami Vivekananda and Maharshi Aurobindo's dream can be realised in 10 or 15 years, and for which people are being prepared.
Referring to Swami Vivekananda, Bhagwat said that Sanatan Dharma is nothing but a Hindu Rashtra and the country's progress is linked to the progress of the religion.
Claiming that the objectives of religion are the objectives of India, the RSS chief said that the objective can only be achieved by empowering people and when people are ready, the behaviour of others also changes accordingly.
Urging the saints to prepare people to attain the objective as does the RSS, Bhagwat said there should be talks about non-violence while keeping a stick in hand because the world only understands power.
"We have no ill-will, no enmity with anyone," he said, adding that all those impediments on the path of its objective will be either removed or finished, but India will not stop.
"We have kept our diversity and traditions safe. But we must understand that we are not different (from each other) because of diversity. If we march together, forgetting our differences, we will reach our goal (in 20-25 years)," Bhagwat was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.