New Delhi, Sep 29 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative postage stamp and coin to mark the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) this week.
The RSS, founded on Vijayadashmi in 1925, will complete 100 years on Thursday.
Sources said the prime minister will release the commemorative stamp and coin on Wednesday in the presence of RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on the eve of the organisation’s centenary year celebrations.
Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday showered praise on the RSS for its selfless service and discipline, and said “nation first” is always supreme in every action of its volunteers.
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, the prime minister said the RSS was established by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on Vijayadashmi in 1925 to free the country from intellectual slavery, and its journey since has been as remarkable and unprecedented as it is inspiring.
A former RSS pracharak himself, Modi also praised Hedgewar’s successor, M S Golwalkar, and said his statement that “this is not mine, this belongs to the nation” inspires people to rise above self-interest and embrace dedication to the nation.
He said, “This statement by Guruji Golwalkar has shown millions of volunteers the path of sacrifice and service. This spirit of sacrifice, service, and the discipline it teaches is the true strength of the Sangh. Today, the RSS has been relentlessly and tirelessly engaged in national service for over a hundred years.” Preparations are in full swing to organise a series of events, including
“Bayaan Bahadur”
over one lakh ‘Hindu sammelans’, across the country to mark the RSS’ centenary year.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday launched a collection of RSS songs, which he described as a product of devotion to the motherland, while addressing an event in Nagpur that was also attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The ‘Sangh Geet’ album features 25 songs sung by renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, who performed ten of them live during the event.
Praising the spirit behind the songs, Bhagwat said, “Sangh Geet is born out of devotion to the motherland and the austerity of life. These songs emerge from the lived experiences of Swayamsevaks. These songs are a product of devotion to the motherland.”
The RSS has songs in every Indian language, with the total number estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000.
Bhagwat will deliver his annual Vijayadashmi address at the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur on Thursday, kicking off a series of events across the country till the next Vijayadashmi.
It will also launch a nationwide door-to-door public outreach campaign and hold thousands of symposiums on various topics, including social harmony, across all states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at Congress and its leader over their criticism against the income tax slab changes and GST revamp, accusing them of making “false statements”.While addressing a gathering at the inaugural event of the Delhi BJP office, PM Modi compared the income tax collected during the Congress tenure and now, saying that a family spending Rs 1 lakh per year had to pay Rs 25,000 in taxes. Incomes above Rs 2 lakh were taxable until 2014, while there is zero tax on incomes up to Rs 12 lakh in today’s time, he added.”In 2014, when the Congress government was in power. ‘Yeh Bayaan-bahadur’ are experts at making false statements every day. But let me expose them. What was the state of income tax in our country until 2014? Incomes above 2 lakh rupees were taxable. Today, incomes up to 12 lakh rupees are taxed at zero. The same was true for taxes on goods and services. Before 2014, if a family spent 1 lakh rupees a year on daily needs, they had to pay around 25,000 rupees in taxes,” PM Modi said.The Prime Minister asserted that a family has to pay only Rs 5,000 to 6,000 in taxes on an expenditure of Rs 1 lakh.”When we introduced GST in 2017, goods became cheaper. Taxes were also reduced, and now, after the Next Generation GST reform, a family has to pay only Rs 5000-6000 in taxes on an expenditure of one lakh rupees. This means that compared to 11 years ago, the family is guaranteed to save approximately Rs 20,000 every year. If we combine the income tax and GST savings, the countrymen will save approximately Rs 2.5 lakh crore every year,” he added.
Intensifying his attack against the opposition, PM Modi accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of “looting what should have gone to the people” after the centre reduced the GST prices.”The opposition says something else and does the opposite. As soon as we reduced the GST prices, they increased the cement prices in Himachal and began filling their coffers. The government in Himachal immediately started looting what should have gone to the people,” the PM said.”We must ensure that the benefits of the Next Generation GST refunds reach the common people. We must inform customers and educate our shopkeepers. Where we are in the opposition, our responsibility increases even more. The government there passes the full benefit of the GST reduction to the public; we must ensure this,” he added.The Prime Minister stated that India must become “self-reliant” and adopt a Swadeshi approach.”We have to make India self-reliant and embrace Swadeshi. It is the responsibility of BJP workers to ensure that every shop has a board, and a large one with the inscription ‘Say with pride, this is Swadeshi.’ This should be displayed in every shop. This is the responsibility of every BJP worker. The less our dependence on foreign products, the better it will be for the country,” PM Modi added.
