‘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 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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