RSS pays homage to Manmohan Singh, expresses concern over Manipur, calls for unity in language disputes

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha commenced in Bengaluru on Friday, bringing together key RSS leaders and volunteers to discuss national and social issues. The three-day event began with tributes to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, writer Pritish Nandy, and several deceased RSS workers. The session also focused on pressing issues such as the ongoing Manipur crisis, language disputes, and national unity.

Addressing the long-standing turmoil in Manipur, RSS Joint General Secretary Mukund CR expressed deep concern, highlighting that the northeastern state has been witnessing unrest for the past 20 months. He noted that some recent political and administrative steps by the central government have provided hope for stability, but emphasized that restoring peace and normalcy will take time. The RSS reiterated its commitment to working toward resolving the crisis and assisting affected communities.

Mukund CR also commented on language and delimitation-related disputes, particularly between Tamil Nadu and the central government. He pointed out that certain groups are exploiting regional differences to challenge national unity, emphasizing that many of these debates are politically motivated. He urged all stakeholders to engage in dialogue with goodwill and mutual understanding, warning that internal conflicts only weaken the nation.

He further stated that RSS volunteers and ideological groups have been working extensively—especially in South India—to promote harmony, linguistic inclusivity, and cultural unity. He called for efforts to reduce friction between different linguistic communities and to ensure that delimitation decisions are taken in a fair and transparent manner.

The RSS also reaffirmed its stance on education in the mother tongue. Mukund CR emphasized that primary education should be conducted in a student’s native language, advocating for multilingual learning alongside career-oriented languages like English. He explained that while RSS does not officially endorse a two-language or three-language policy, it strongly encourages regional language promotion. He suggested that every Indian should learn their mother tongue as well as a "market language", citing Tamil for Tamil Nadu residents and Hindi for those in Delhi, while acknowledging that English remains crucial for career growth.