Mohan Bhagwat on reservation: 'Those who have benefited should show a big heart, voluntarily leave' 

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said people who have already benefited from reservation should "show a big heart" and voluntarily give it up so that others can benefit. He also urged that the issue should not be turned into a political debate.

"I will go to what Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar thought about reservation. If we honestly follow his advice, then there is no problem. Reservation exists due to social reasons. As long as there is social discrimination, reservation will continue," Bhagwat said while speaking at an event where he interacted with Gen-Zs.

"Those who received it and benefited should be large-hearted and pass it on. A few voices have started coming up that they received it, benefited, and now it should be given to others. There have been demands for categorisation in a few states."

Bhagwat said that the Supreme Court, too, had observed that those who have benefitted should leave it for others. "This is for our upliftment, and not a permanent measure, and we have to take advantage of this, improve ourselves, and make this useful for others who haven't got it yet. This should be encouraged."

The RSS chief said that politics should not be done over reservation. If all measures are properly implemented soon, he added, its need would end. "But politics was done over it, which creates bad blood. Actually, the measure was brought for social unity. The measure in itself is not wrong, but those who wield the sword are doing it in the wrong way intentionally."

Don't Miss: Kumar Mangalam Birla hails RSS for 100 years of social and national service in Nagpur

ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND JOBS

Bhagwat also spoke about unemployment, saying India needs to move beyond the mindset that employment only means a job.

"We have to change the mindset that employment is not only a job but entrepreneurship and skills. Unfortunately, manual work has no prestige now. Dignity of labour should be regained. Everyone is preferring service jobs and government jobs," he said.

The RSS chief also said that many sectors face a shortage of workers despite available opportunities. He also added that there are fields where workers are not available. "Doing menial jobs has also earned wealth. There is no guarantee of luxury life, but one can afford a decent life. Society should respect those who are working despite the type of job he is performing."

Must Read: RSS' 100th anniversary: 'It would be a very good thing if...,' says Mohan Bhagwat on UCC

ON PAKISTAN, CHINA RELATIONS

Bhagwat also spoke about India's ties with Pakistan and China, saying people-to-people relations should not be permanently severed because of political conflicts. He, however, made it clear that Pakistan has a "thousand-cuts" policy and was waging a "hidden war" against India, so "we have to treat it accordingly."

"In times of conflict, we have to go with whatever our government does. But that should not sever the ties which are already there," he said.

Referring to historical ties, Bhagwat said, "China's people say that for 2000 years, Bharat gave them some values; and Pakistan was Bharat less than 100 years ago. This should not be forgotten; these ties cannot be severed; they can be put on hold till there is conflict."

He said India's approach should be based on dialogue rather than permanent hostility. "The Bharatiya solution is not conquering or obliterating others, but to form that harmonious, assimilating process. That requires dialogue. So, conflicts may halt all these relations, but they cannot sever; they should not."

Bhagwat added that while citizens must stand with the government and the armed forces during conflicts, hostility cannot be permanent. "So, during conflict, we are with our government and our Military. But we know that sometimes, it has to cease and we have to be one. Because humanity is one."