RSS General Secretary Hosabale justifies SIR warns against 'anarchic forces'

Indore, Nov 4 (PTI) RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Wednesday claimed that some internal and external "anarchic forces" were inciting the country's youth, and said a regime change should happen only through elections and not through violence or unrest.

    He also defended the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, saying it was necessary for ensuring error-free lists, and the Opposition should first examine the issue before protesting.

     Hosabale was speaking to reporters here after the annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal, the main organisational body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

     To a question about the recent Gen Z agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, he said that some "anarchic forces" within and outside the country were conspiring to incite the youth.

"...but any society and government should pay attention to the aspirations and concerns of the youth. The Sangh urges dialogue with the youth," he added.

    To another question, he said that in India's democratic system, a regime change occurs through elections.

     Spreading unrest, violence, or creating discrimination under the guise of regime change is not in the best interests of society, he said.

     Expressing surprise at the political opposition to the SIR, he said in a democracy political parties can work according to their own agendas.

     But instead of protesting on an issue simply for the sake of protest, opposition leaders should examine whether there is any truth to it, the RSS leader said.

    The purpose of the SIR is to refine voter lists, and many of those removed from voter lists were already deceased or registered as voters in two places, Hosabale said.

     Including the names of people who are not Indian citizens in voter lists is a violation of economic and social security, he further said.

    SIRs have been carried out regularly in the country, and he did not understand why politics should be played on this issue, the RSS leader said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)