Uniform Civil Code should be framed with consensus, shouldn't create divisions: Bhagwat
Mumbai (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be framed by taking everyone into confidence and must not lead to divisions.
Asked whether "achche din" (good days) for the RSS came after the BJP came to power, Bhagwat said it was the "other way round", noting the Sangh had remained committed to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and those who supported it benefitted.
On the long-pending demand for Bharat Ratna for Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, Bhagwat said the award's prestige will rise if conferred on him.
He was speaking during an interaction at a programme to mark the RSS's centenary. Several prominent personalities were present at the event, including actors Raveena Tandon, Vicky Kaushal, Ananya Panday, filmmakers Karan Johar, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ramesh Taurani and musician Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Bhagwat said the Uniform Civil Code should be formed by taking everyone into confidence.
"It shouldn't create divisions. In Uttarakhand, three lakh suggestions were made and after talking to all stakeholders, the act was passed," he said.
To another question, he said there is no majority or minority (community), "we are all one society".
He stressed the need for trust, friendship and a dialogue with Muslim and Christian communities.
"Islam is called the religion of peace, but peace is not seen. If there is no spirituality in religion, it becomes dominating and aggressive. What is seen in Islam and Christianity today is not as per the teachings of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad. We need the practice of true Islam and Christianity,'' he said.
On the recent India-US trade pact, Bhagwat said he hasn't gone into the details.
'' It is true that we can't remain in isolation. In deals, there is give and take. It should be win-win...we have to ensure we are not at a loss," he maintained.
US President Donald Trump on Monday said India and the US have agreed to a trade deal. On his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was delighted that "made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent".
Asked whether "achche din" (good days) for the RSS came after the BJP came to power, Bhagwat said, "Achche din for us didn't come because of the BJP... it is the other way round. We remained committed to Ram Mandir construction. Those who supported us benefitted."
"Achche din'' for the RSS came because of the hard work of the volunteers and commitment to ideological policies, he stressed.
The RSS does advise when needed. "Their sins are blamed on us because they have come from within us,'' he said, adding that political pressure comes from voters and not RSS.
Asked why the communists' base hasn't grown in 100 years, Bhagwat said the RSS can give them guidance if asked.
He noted that the RSS is a young organisation, with an average age of 28. "We want to bring it down to 25," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Man chased, brutally stabbed inside public toilet in northwest Delhi; one arrested; juvenile held
New Delhi (PTI): An alleged road rage incident took a fatal turn when a 27-year-old factory worker was chased down by assailants and stabbed multiple times inside a public toilet in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area, police said on Thursday.
According to police, the incident took place on Wednesday night, when witnesses saw the victim, Santosh Kumar, running into a public toilet in a desperate bid to save his life, with his attackers hot on his heels.
"A PCR call was received at 6:23 pm on April 8 regarding a man being stabbed inside the compound of a Sulabh Sauchalaya located at the fish market in Wazirpur Industrial Area," a senior police officer said.
A police team rushed to the spot and found the victim lying in a pool of blood inside the toilet premises. The victim, originally from Nepal, was residing in Macchi Market area, the official said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the incident stemmed from an altercation between the victim and a motorcycle rider. The verbal spat soon escalated into a physical scuffle, during which the accused, along with an associate, allegedly attacked Santosh with a knife.
Police sources said in a desperate attempt to save himself, the injured victim ran towards the nearby public toilet and tried to latch the door from inside. Eyewitness accounts suggest he tried to take refuge inside the public toilet and shut the door to prevent his attackers from entering. However, he was chased down, overpowered, and stabbed multiple times.
Santosh collapsed on the spot, where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said.
A case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intentions) was registered at Ashok Vihar police station and an investigation was taken up.
During the probe, police arrested one accused identified as Tanish (19), a resident of CSA Colony in Macchi Market area, and apprehended a juvenile allegedly involved in the incident.
Police said the motorcycle used by the accused, which they had abandoned while fleeing after the attack, was recovered near the crime scene.
Family members and acquaintances of the deceased expressed shock over the killing. Santosh's uncle, who reached the spot after being informed, recounted the scene.
"When I came here, I saw him lying on the floor, dead. I noticed that he had been stabbed twice. I am not aware of what exactly happened. He was just 27 years old and used to work in a steel company with me. I don't know how many people were involved in the attack. We are from Nepal, and I have been working here for 15 years. I think he was stabbed outside and later came inside the toilet to save himself. There was a bike outside which I think belonged to the attackers," he said.
Police said the motive behind the crime appears to be road rage -- a sudden and heated altercation on the road that spiralled into a violent assault resulting in the victim's death.
Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any other persons involved in the attack. Police teams are analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and examining local witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.
