Centre backs RSS chief's Doordarshan speech

Bhagwat drew a controversy on Friday morning when he addressed a speech via a live telecast on the national broadcaster Doordarshan on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Defending the act, Centre said that the issues raised in the speech were important to the nation.

"It was a news-worthy event," said Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

“RSS chief raised important national issues in speech,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM tweeted, “Issues raised by Mohan Bhagwat are relevant. He spoke about important national issues.”

Doordarshan officials too made the same argument, which did not wash with the opposition.

Reiterating to what Modi said, Doordarshan also tried to clarify the act by saying that the speech was newsworthy event, that's why it was broadcast live.

Earlier, in his address Bhagwat elaborated the vision of RSS that guides its members.

While praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his successful US trip. 64-year-old Bhagwat in his address to cadres, flagged "a serious upsurge in the jihadi activities" in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

He alleged that illegal immigration "of a particular community from across the border in West Bengal and Assam has endangered the life of local Hindu communities" and law and order in those regions.

He also said that the infiltration is happening from across the border in West Bengal and Assam.

He also said that some elements in India are also helping these infiltrators.

Bhagwat at the same time praised India's Mission on Mars and the success of Indian athletes in the Asian Games. Bhagwat urged all to boycott

Chinese products while also warning people on the Jihadi activities. He said what we call Hinduness is India's national identity.

But, immediately the speech sparked a controversy among the political circles.

Drawing apprehensions, CPM condemned the  telecast of RSS chief's Vijaya Dashami speech on Doordarshan, by saying public broadcaster being misused by Modi government.

"The RSS uses the occasion to propagate its Hindutva ideology," said the CPI (M) declaring Doordarshan "has no business" in broadcasting the speech.

Congress also joined the band-wagon by sayng, Doordarshan broadcasting RSS ideology is a very serious issue.

It also demanded an explanation from the government.

"Doordarshan is run by public money. So how is government using it to broadcast the RSS Chief's speech?" asked Rashid Alvi of the Congress.

Historian and social commentator Ramchandra Guha tweeted: "I hope someone files a PIL against DD’s plans to cover the RSS chief's speech live. This naked state majoritarianism must be resisted."

"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.