‘RSS?stands for ‘Dharma’ not for religion; it welcomes non-Hindus too’

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)
February 18, 2016

Mangaluru, Feb 18: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Coordinator of Public Relations Cell (Samparka Pramukh) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana T S Venkatesh ruled out the charge that only people belonging to upper crust of the society dominate the RSS.

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In an interaction with media persons at Hotel Ocean Pearl in the city on Thursday, he said RSS does not bring in the concept of religion when it comes to the issue of nationalism. “Religion or caste should not be confused for Dharma,” he said.

RSS?stands for Dharma and there is no concept of religion in RSS, he claimed. Once a person becomes an active member of RSS, he is recognised by his service and commitment to the organisation and by the nature of the duty he performs, he added.

He said that though RSS?is basically a Hindu organisation, it welcomes people from other religions provided they are willing to work for the cause of country. Once they become the RSS members, they have to respect the national song and abide by the discipline, he said.

RSS basically considers all Indians as Hindus, but the question is whether the counterparts also think the same, he said.

Venkatesh said RSS hols 55,000 daily shakhas, 13,000 weekly Milans and 9,000 monthly congregations. About 80,000 members take part in training camps and the organisation has 60 lakh active members, he explained.

He said that through its shakha, RSS propagates faith on the value of nationalism, cultivates discipline and provides exposure to current affairs of national importance to its members.

It has been taking up voluntary works during natural calamities and has been carrying out various projects such as Gram Vikas, Parivar Prabodhan, Paryavaran Samrakshan for rural development, propagation of family values and environment conservation respectively, he said.

Venkatesh said RSS’ flagship organisations like Hindu Seva Pratishthana, Rastrottana Parishat and Keshava Seva Samithi render social service through volunteers.

Social service rendered by volunteers through its flagship organisations such as he said.

Responding to a query, he said the RSS?accumulates funds from its Swayamsevaks or volunteers, irrespective of the organisation they belong to.

When a person is an RSS member, it is not important whether the person is a farmer or a worker in a corporate company. It does not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties such as allotment of tickets to candidates for elections, he said.

While clarifying that RSS opposes any sort of anti-national move, he said it could be agreed if some people are protesting against the government but, if they are protesting against the country, it is not acceptable. The act of students of JNU of raising anti-national slogans is condemnable, he said.

The commitment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh towards the protection of cattle, is mistaken, he said and added that RSS has been undertaking initiatives to preserve the local breeds of cattle.

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Comments

HONEST
 - 
Saturday, 20 Feb 2016

Let them Hoist National Flag in cheddi HQ and sing national anthem... Cheddis are very clever in deceiving people ... and the people are very WEAK in understanding this DECEPTION>>>
They are against Communist
They are against Christians
They are against Muslims
They are against Dalits
They dont like more than 75% of population of India... Why dont WE recognize this deception of playing with the words. Better cheddis should leave india rather than asking others to stay to their arrogance.

Ahmed
 - 
Friday, 19 Feb 2016

He says they welcome other religion people also. Same time he puts a condition saying that once you join RSS you have to respect national song. He does not say anything about national anthem. Since when National song became greater than national Anthem???? He knows very well that with this condition, he can keep Muslims away from RSS.

Suresh
 - 
Friday, 19 Feb 2016

Where is sangeet som. Please go and clarify him what you mean by cattle protection of local breed. Who have 3 factories which exports to middle east

Curious
 - 
Friday, 19 Feb 2016

Rss stands for Rashtra Sarwochha Shathru it's a open terrorism in the name of Rashtra.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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