RSS hits out at UPA over minority quota

CHENNAI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has urged the Centre to protect and preserve the sovereignty and integrity of India, which, it says, is being threatened by some policies of the government as well as a number of upsurges in popular movements.The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest body of the voluntary organisation passed a resolution to this effect at its meeting held in Nagpur recently.“It is a matter of grave concern for the ABPS that the actions of the government in issues like Communal and Targeted Violence Bill and Minority Reservations are potential triggers for creating disunity and discord among various sections of society.The anti-constitutional decision of the Union and certain State governments to carve out 4.5 per cent as minority quota from the OBC quota of 27 per cent reservations calls for rejection by the entire nation.The ABPS exhorts that the national policy should be guided not by short-term political gains, but by the principle of One Nation - One People,” read the resolution.It also urged volunteers of the organisation to take proactive steps to ensure social unity, said ML Raja, president of the North Tamil Nadu RSS, on his return from Nagpur.Raja also told reporters that the ABPS had adopted a resolution against the Centre’s Draft National Water Policy, 2012. “Water is a basic right. The Draft Water Policy treats it like a commodity. This makes it easier for it to be taken over by foreign players.If it comes into effect, a farmer will not be able to draw water from his own well,” said Raja, speaking about the resolution.He also announced that RSS units across Tamil Nadu would continue work towards expanding its base, which, he said, had shown a healthy trend in recent times.