Charity from foreign lands has hidden motives: RSS leader

New Delhi

Charity from foreign lands has hidden motives and such service is just like business, a top RSS functionary today claimed at a convention of nearly 800 Sangh-backed organisations that commenced here.

Addressing the inaugural session of ‘Rashtriya Sewa Sangam’ here, senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal said that Indian philosophy finds God in every individual and serving people selflessly means serving almighty here.

“In the lands outside India, charity is not this….There is something hidden in that charity. That charity is not without a reason, there are motives behind it. And when there are motives behind service, it is just like business,” Gopal said.

“Only in Indian philosophy is completely selfless service envisaged,” the RSS joint general secretary added.

He asked the organisations, claimed to be involved in social work, not to discriminate on the basis of religion and asked them serve all the people of the country.

Though Gopal did not name any organisation, his comments come just a couple of months after a huge controversy was sparked by reporter remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who had claimed that conversion to Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa’s service to the poor.

At the ‘Rashtriya Sewa Sangam’, Gopal today said the country had 1000 “difficult and painful” years when Hindu society underwent a turmoil and seemed fragmented.

“We have a one-thousand-year backlog. For one thousand years we could not look after the society as much as we should have. Now the times of difficulty have passed and hindu society is standing strongly with pride,” he said.

He said Sewa Bharati workers should not discriminate on the basis of religion. He asked the organisations to ensure their services reach everyone across India.

“Who will worry for the children and families of Hindus? We will. But along with that we’ll care for all people of the country,” said.

Gopal was speaking at the inauguration of the high profile event where spiritual leader Amritanandmayi Maa, was the chief guest while Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra was also present.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, IT czar Azim Premji and GMR group chief G M Rao are among several prominent people likely to attend the event being held at a resort on the outskirts of the capital.

Gopal said RSS had been formed to ensure that the situation of the Hindu society is transformed.

“We say ‘Bharat mata ki Jai’. It is not a slogan but a mantra…. And it is incomplete if the poor don’t have education or medication or face any other shortage,” the RSS leader said.

Gopal also added that the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati had from a comparatively modest beginning reached a stage where it is implementing nearly 1.5 lakh projects aimed at helping and supporting the weaker sections.

The Rashtriya Sewa Bharati is an umbrella organisation which extends support to several organisation which are involved in social service and charitable activities in various fields including for the benefit of differently abled, women, children, cow protection and other fields.

Addressing the gathering through a translator, Maa Amritanandmayi also said that real service of people is without any selfish desire. She criticised the tendency to make a profession out of serving people.

She added that apart from poverty of food, clothing and shelter, another kind of poverty that exists in the world is poverty of love and compassion.

She lauded the work done in various fields of social work by the organisations associated with the RSS backed Rashtriya Sewa Bharati.

She also said that children should be taught about ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

Ajit Prasad Mohapatra, who is the all-India Sah-Sewa Pramukh of RSS, said the Sangam was being held after five years. He said state level sangams are held in the inter-regnum and a national level summit is held after five years.

Asked about the presence of prominent corporate leaders, Mohapatra said there are people in different fields who are interested in social work.

In the evening, RSS Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) Suresh ‘Bhaiyaaji’ Joshi had an interactive session with representatives of various organisations and delegations.

PTI