Nagpur (PTI): RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the mutual understanding displayed by the political class following the Pahalgam terror attack and action taken by India later should continue and become a permanent feature.

After the April 22 massacre of tourists in Pahalgam, people were angry and wanted the culprits to be punished and the action followed, he said in an indirect reference to Operation Sindoor which saw Indian armed forces target terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, and subsequent bombing of airbases in the neighbouring country in retaliatory strikes.

The society also gave a message of unity, Bhagwat noted, addressing the concluding event of the Karyakarta Vikas Varg for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers in Nagpur.

Coming out strongly against religious conversion using force and pressure, the RSS leader noted it was not act of violence.

"Conversion is violence. We are not against it when done by choice. But luring, forcing and pressurising is something we are against. By telling people that their ancestors were wrong, it is an insult of them. We are against such practices," he asserted.

"We are with you (in fight against conversion),” Bhagwat said, referring to tribal leader and former Union minister Arvind Netam, who was the chief guest at the event.

Once again referring to the May 7-10 India-Pakistan military conflict, he emphasised everyone saw the grit of the country's decision-makers in the action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Action was taken after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. The valour of our Army shone once again in it. The firmness of the administration was also seen. The political class also showed mutual understanding. The society gave the message of unity. This should continue and become a permanent feature," he averred.

India should be self-dependent in matters of security, the RSS chief insisted.

Without naming Pakistan, Bhagwat said, "Those who can't win a direct fight with India want to bleed our country by the policy of a thousand cuts and waging a proxy war."

During World War II, Hitler bombarded London for nearly a month, expecting Britain to surrender. In response, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the nation and later told Parliament the British would fight on the "seas and on the beaches".

Referring to this episode, Bhagwat remarked that Churchill had said society was the true lion and he merely roared on its behalf.

The RSS leader observed that one person's gain can sometimes mean another's loss, and a lack of understanding between individuals may lead to dissatisfaction.

In the national interest, no group or class should come into conflict with another. Acting impulsively, engaging in unnecessary arguments, or taking the law into one's own hands was not in the country's interest, he stressed.

He reflected on the time when India was not independent, saying (British) rulers then encouraged divisions and supported disruptive elements, forcing ordinary people to take up the fight.

Today, however, he said, the government functions under the Constitution.

Bhagwat warned against the use of abusive language and overreactions, stating some individuals deliver provocative speeches for personal gain.

"Our roots lie in unity, not in division," he said, adding that while people may speak different languages and follow different customs, unity stands above all differences.

Bhagwat argued that the idea of ethnic differences among Indians was a misconception fostered by British colonial rule.

Tribal leader Netam, who served in the cabinets of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of RSS volunteer training camp.

The 25-day training camp, Karyakarta Vikas Varg Dwitiya, in which 840 volunteers from across the country participated, began on May 12 at Dr Hedgewar Smriti Mandir located in Reshimbag area of Nagpur.

Netam, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said no state government has so far taken the issue of religious conversions seriously.

"I think RSS is the only institution which can help us in this area," he said.

The RSS should pressure the central government to come out with an action plan after Naxalism ends to ensure the menace does not raise its head again, the former Congress minister stated.

Netam said no government implemented the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and added the central government is mum and even helping industrialists.

The PESA Act aims to ensure self-governance in tribal areas through Gram Sabhas, empowering them to manage resources and make decisions related to their communities.

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Manchester, Jul 27 (PTI): Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja extended India’s fight on day five of the fourth Test with determined half-centuries, giving the visitors a slender 11-run lead at tea time but more importantly raising visions of a morale boosting draw.

Both Jadeja (53 batting off 102) and Washington (58 batting off 139) batted with a strong purpose to save the game, frustrating a worn out England attack.

At tea, India were 322 for four after collecting 99 runs from a wicketless afternoon session.

Ben Stokes, who looked lethal in his eight over spell in the morning, could not keep up the intensity in the three overs he bowled in the second session.

In a 15-run over from Stokes, Washington pulled the England captain for a six and four to bring up his fifty before Jadeja employed the cut to complete his fifth half-century in six innings.

With not much batting to come and Rishabh Pant injured, it remains to be seen if India can pull off a draw from here.

What made England’s life difficult is that left-arm spinner Liam Dawson (0/70 in 39 overs) was not able to challenge the Indian left-handers enough while Jofra Archer too get could not get a breakthrough post lunch.

The second new ball is now 38 overs old, making batting easier.

In the morning session, Shubman Gill completed a gutsy hundred after Stokes battled through pain to dismiss a well set K L Rahul, leaving India at 223 for four at lunch.

Resuming the day at 174 for two with a deficit of 137, India remained on course to draw the game courtesy a fighting effort from Gill, who brought up his fourth century of the series. The Indian captain fell at the stroke of lunch with the visitors still trailing England by 88 runs.

Considering India’s backs against the walls and series on the line, this could be Gill’s most defining century if India managed to save the match and keep the series alive.

Expecting the ball to come back in, Gill felt for the one from Jofra Archer that shaped away, getting a faint outside edge.

The 188-run marathon stand between Gill and Rahul (90 off 230) was finally broken when the latter was trapped in front by Stokes with a ball that kept a tad low from length.

Soon after, Stokes got one jump to sharply from a similar length that foxed Rahul, leaving the Indian skipper in a lot of pain.

The rising ball first crashed into Gill’s right thumb before taking a piece of his

helmet.

It was remarkable that Stokes, who was not fit enough to bowl on day four, managed an eight-over spell on day five despite discomfort in his right shoulder and hamstring. Like at Lord’s, he did not care much about his injury prone body to help the team’s cause.

The new ball was taken after the 80th over and resulted in the wicket of Gill. Jadeja too would have be gone first ball but Joe Root could not hold on to a tough chance at first slip off Archer.

Brief scores:

India: 358 and 322/4 in 118 overs (KL Rahul 90, Shubman Gill 103, Ravindra Jadeja 53 batting, Washington Sundar 57 batting; Chris Woakes 2/57)

England 1st innings: 669 all out in 157.1 overs (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141, Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 4/143).