PM Modi attends RSS meet, says proud of being a swayamsevak

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended a meeting between Sangh Parivar outfits and the government on the third and final day of the first of its kind deliberations where a broad range of issues have figured.

"I am also from the sangh and understands its commitment to development and antyodaya (development of the last man)," said PM Modi.

The prime minister also highlighted the initiatives taken by his government with regard to various fields in helping the common man. He also sought the cooperation of the RSS and its affiliates in taking forward the initiatives of the government. Modi expressed confidence that he would be able to take the country on the path of self-reliance and development while reiterating his government's commitment to the care of the poor, downtrodden, backward and antyodaya.'

"Very soon we are confident that things would be better in the coming times," Modi said citing the experience of his government in the last 15 months.

The Prime Minister said that his government wanted that India should become self-reliant in security and economy and should not depend too much on imports. "We are committed to pushing the government in that direction," Modi said.

Several top ministers of Modi government have participated in the deliberations on key issues including internal security, naxal problem and situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Manohar Parrikar, Venkaiah Naidu and Anant Kumar were among senior Union Ministers who attended the deliberations where they spoke about the measures taken by them in relation to the issues raised by the RSS and its affiliates.

Ram Madhav, BJP General Secretary, who has been deputed by the RSS to the party, said the prime minister talked about how in the last 15 months he has been able to steer the country forward and clear the mess of the previous government.

On Thursday, India's national security and education scenario figured prominently in the meeting. "RSS samanvay Biathak today discussed scenario of national security (internal and external) besides national education scenario," RSS prachar pramukh Manmohan Vaidya posted on the official RSS Twitter handle, summing up the day's deliberations.

According to sources, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani made a presentation on the education scenario in the country. The sources said RSS-affiliated group Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal was of the view that six percent of the country's GDP should be focused on education. It also backed a panel for education to be set up on the lines of the Election Commission, RSS sources said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also made a presentation on national security and is believed to have explained the government's actions in dealing with the security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir where the RSS functionaries raised the issue of recent terror attacks and the increasing ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who also participated in the interaction between the government, BJP and RSS and its 15 affiliates, gave his perspective of the security situation and the steps taken by the forces to counter violations from across the border. Sources said Article 370, the Naga peace accord, border related issues and the recent terrorist attacks figured in the deliberations.

BJP president Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar and Health Minister JP Nadda also attended the meeting.

On day one, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had made their presentatations on economic issues. The meeting has acquired significance as it comes against the backdrop of the government's U-turn over the contentious land bill and the crucial Bihar polls due by November this year.