Lucknow, February 17 RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called on Tuesday for the Hindu society to unite and become stronger, stating that there is no threat, but vigilance is necessary, and suggested that Hindu families should consider having at least three children.
He also said that infiltrators should be "identified, removed, and deported."
Addressing a meeting on social harmony at Saraswati Shishu Mandir here, Bhagwat expressed concern over what he described as a declining Hindu population and said that religious conversions based on inducement or coercion should be stopped.
He also emphasized the need to bring people back to the Hindu fold and ensure their welfare.
"There is a need to unite and empower Hindus. There is no threat to us, but vigilance is necessary," said the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Raising concerns about infiltration, Bhagwat said that infiltrators should be "identified, removed, and deported," and should not be provided employment.
He also said that Hindu families should consider having at least three children, citing scientific opinions that societies with an average fertility rate of below three could disappear in the future.
Bhagwat said that newly-married couples should be made aware of this and added that the purpose of marriage is to continue creation, not merely fulfilling one's own desires.
Bhagwat said that a lack of harmony leads to discrimination and stressed that all citizens share one country and one motherland.
"The Sanatan thought is a philosophy of harmony," he said, adding that differences that have emerged over time must be addressed through understanding and practice.
Bhagwat said that those who disagree should not be viewed as enemies and emphasised coordination over conflict.
He described "matrushakti" (women power) as the foundation of the household, saying that women should not be seen as weak and should receive training in self-defence.
The RSS chief said that the Indian tradition accords women a revered place and values nurturing qualities over physical appearance.
Responding to a question on University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, he said that laws must be obeyed and if a law is flawed, there are constitutional ways to change it.
He said that caste divisions should not become a cause of conflict and called for uplifting the disadvantaged with a sense of belonging.
Bhagwat said that India would guide the world in the near future and that solutions to many global problems lie within the country's civilisational ethos.
He said that regular community-level meetings should promote social harmony, remove misconceptions and address social issues, while extending support to the weaker sections of the society.
The RSS chief cautioned that some elements in the United States and China are working against India's social harmony, and called for vigilance and mutual trust.
Representatives from Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities, along with organisations such as the Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, and the Art of Living Foundation, among others, attended the programme.