New Delhi, Sep 3: The RSS is likely to prod the NDA government on fears of a changing demographic profile in districts bordering Nepal and Bangladesh as the three-day coordination meeting with the BJP entered the second day on Thursday.
Top ministers and BJP leaders were in attendance at the meeting being presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at a Madhya Pradesh government guest house in the national capital.
Sources said the RSS was concerned about the census data based on religion, released by the government recently, which indicated a steep rise in Muslim population in some districts in Assam and West Bengal, attributed to influx of Muslims from Bangladesh.
The RSS, however, considers Hindus fleeing from Bangladesh as refugees, making a clear distinction with Muslims who enter India illegally.
The recent terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and the Patel reservation row in Gujarat are also expected to be taken up in one of the sessions in the next two days. The RSS is considered the BJP ideological mentor.
On Thursday, the saffron brethren are expected to hold parleys on subjects like internal security and ways to protect the Indian culture. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is also expected to rake up the Ram Temple issue.
Around 93 leaders from the greater Sangh Parivar are attending the meeting, which RSS leaders describe as a “routine” exchange of notes on various issues of national importance.
On day one of the conclave, some Union ministers and BJP chief Amit Shah gave a presentation on the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government.
The RSS later asked the NDA government to maintain “a balance between agriculture and industry” and resolve without delay the protracted demand of retired soldiers for a one-rank, one-pension (OROP) scheme.
Sangh members made a host of suggestions when BJP chief Amit Shah and some ministers presented a report on government initiatives.
The RSS pitch for agro-based industries and micro, small and medium enterprises came at a time the Centre went slow on its push to amend the contentious land acquisition law. The Sangh’s farmer union had red-flagged the land ordinance.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend the meet on Friday.
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