At a Vijayadashami event in Maharashtra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also slammed popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin, declaring “clandestine currency can destabilise economy”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat , whose outfit is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP – today launched into a tirade against COVID-19, OTT platforms, and the narcotics trade, blaming them all for funding “anti-national activities” and demanding that all such activities be “controlled”.
Addressing a Vijayadashami event in Maharashtra’s Nagpur, Bhagwat also took aim at popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin, declaring “clandestine currency like Bitcoin can destabilise the economy” and claiming “vested global interests” were intent on blocking the country’s progress.
“There is no control over what is shown on OTT platforms. All kinds of pictures are shown but how to control it? After coronavirus now even children have mobile phones (required when schools were shut during lockdown) and now they are addicted, so who knows what they see on it,” he said.
“All kinds of narcotics are coming into the country, people are getting addicted. How do we stop this? I don’t know, most people are really scared. All the money from these businesses, everyone knows where it goes. Money from such businesses is used for anti-national activities by some foreign countries.”
#WATCH | "…We know Taliban's history…China and Pakistan support it to this day…Even if the Taliban changed, Pakistan didn't… Has China's intentions towards India changed.?… Our border security needs to be strengthened…," says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pic.twitter.com/zkRSlMF99L
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2021
Bhagwat’s remarks particularly those on drugs, comes amid widespread criticism of the centre and the Narcotics Control Bureau, their handling of the Mumbai drugs-on-cruise case which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan is an accused despite, authorities finding no drugs on him.
Aryan Khan was arrested earlier this month after an NCB raid on a cruise ship anchored off the Mumbai coast and has been in jail since. He was denied bail for the fourth time yesterday.
The NCB had argued Aryan Khan was in touch with “some persons abroad who appear to be a part of an international drug network…”. The central agency also claimed that the fact no drugs were found on him was irrelevant, since he was found in the company of those possessing drugs.
There has been outpouring of support for Aryan since this case started, with the Maharashtra government leading the charge. The minister Nawab Malik has accused BJP of “forging” a case.
Bhagwat’s other remarks were related to equally controversial issues that have seen the ruling BJP field severe criticism, including the issue of regulating content on OTTs like Netflix.
The government has issue new rules for digital media, including OTTs, which have faced police cases over content that allegedly hurts Hindu sentiments, but these have been challenged in court.
Bhagwat also renewed calls for a population policy – a hugely controversial topic in the country.
“Population policy should be considered once again, the policy should be made for the next 50 years, and it should be implemented equally, population imbalance has become a problem,” he said.
