Meeting also likely to take stock of Bihar polls .
New Delhi : A uniform population policy for all Indians, irrespective of their religious affiliation, is likely to be on the top of the agenda of the Akhil Bhara-tiya Karyakari Mandal meet of the RSS scheduled in Ran-chi later this week. The meeting — commonly referred to as Diwali Baithak among the Sangh functionaries — would firm up the proposals for a uniform population policy discussed earlier by the big-wigs in the organization. A presentation on the subject and adoption of a resolution at the end of the deliberations is also expected. The RSS top brass had made a pitch for such a population policy soon after the Centre released the data of the religious census for the country. The subject had also been widely discussed during the RSS-BJP co-ordination meet held in Delhi, which was attended by most central ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While the formal ABKM meet is scheduled from Oct 30 to Nov 1 in Ranchi, the top leaders of the Sangh and its affiliates have already started informal meetings in the Jharkhand capital. Official sources confirmed that ‘‘issues related to changes in the population and demography of the country, which are obvious from the census data, have raised concern.’’ Sources said the Sangh leadership has already worked out a draft of the population policy in preliminary discussions. After discussions in the Karyakari Mandal, a formal demand would be raised. Along with the demand for a uniform population policy, the RSS could also give some ‘valuable suggestions’ to the central government in this regard. It is learnt that the RSS is quite impressed with the manner in which China has managed to control its population by strict enforcement of the policy.
Sangh leadership is also likely to take stock of the BJP’s prospects in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, though the subject may not be part of the formal agenda of the ABKM. Ever since RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s controversial interview, where talked of the need for a review of the reservation system, BJP has been facing a tough time in the Bihar campaign. The party has been compelled to explain, from the PM down to the local leadership, that there is no question of touching the existing quotas at any cost.
