Bhagwat urges protests to seek solutions, respect constitutional limits

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat urged protesters to seek solutions and avoid deepening social divisions during his Vijayadashami address in Nagpur on October 20, while alleging that foreign forces were pursuing efforts to weaken India with support from some domestic political leaders. Bhagwat said protests were a normal part of democracy but should address problems rather than serve political interests or fuel hostility. He also called on protesters, political leaders and authorities to respect constitutional limits and standards of civil conduct, and to avoid creating bitterness or division in society. The RSS chief cited unrest in France, Albania, Bangladesh and Nepal as examples of upheavals he said were linked to efforts to change governments. He argued that replacing a government does not necessarily resolve underlying problems. His claims that similar efforts are under way in India, that global powers seek to limit its influence, and that ambitious Indian leaders support those efforts were assertions made in the address. The reports provided no independent evidence establishing them. Bhagwat said India had countered such alleged efforts through firm...