Ahead of the annual meeting of the top decision-making body, the RSS made it clear that it had a different view of the government’s proposed laws on the age of marriage for women, and believed these issues should be left to society to decide. She also believes that the hijab controversy is overblown and should be dealt with at the local level.

The two issues, along with other hot-button issues, are likely to be discussed during the Baithak Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in Ahmedabad on March 11-13, RSS sources said.

The ABPS meets annually to assess the organization and its work and determine future courses of action. All senior leaders of RSS, representatives from all over the country, and more than 30 related organizations will be in attendance.

“The age of marriage is being debated. There is a lot of opinion. In tribal or rural areas, people marry early. The government’s argument is (suppressing) education and (leading to) early pregnancy. But even the government doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to enforce it. The problem is the state To what extent should these things be intervened. Certain things should be left to society,” said a senior RSS leader​​​.

Sources said the idea of ​​lowering the marriage age to 18 for all was also shared with the government, but some social groups opposed it.

In December, the government introduced legislation aimed at raising the age of marriage for women from 18 to 21. Facing criticism from the opposition, the bill was sent to the parliamentary standing committee for further discussion.

Sources said Sanger had a similar view on spousal rape and believed it should be left to the family to decide how to deal with it.

The RSS believes these two issues are at odds with its nationwide campaign to revitalize a culture of family bonding, which it says is under pressure from modern economic pressures and Western influences. The RSS runs a program called Kutumb Prabodhan, which sees the family as the most important unit in society and urges people to spend at least one day a week eating with extended family.

“There shouldn’t be a political discussion about this, but a social discussion. A helpless society demands the law on everything. A strong society must find solutions on its own. When government is reduced and governance is improved, society is also improved, ” said the RSS leader.

Sanger also believes that the recent controversy in Karnataka over the wearing of hijab in classrooms has been exaggerated. “While we see this as an attempt by the BJP to expand its sphere of influence, we think this matter should have been dealt with at the local level. That’s why Sanger is not going to move things forward. However, there is a constant search for ways to It is also not good to maintain religious identity,” the chairman said.

Complete News Source : The Indian Express