Agra, Oct 15 — The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today advocated the discarding of the capitalist-oriented western model economic system and adopting an economic path which was self-reliant, village-centred and suiting Indian requirements.

“The western model is based on four philosophies — struggle for existence, survival of the fittest, exploitation of nature and individual right — which doesn’t augur well with our philosophy and need,” the RSS Chief, Mr K. S. Sudarshan, said while addressing the concluding session of the organisation’s three-day Rashtra Raksha Mahashivir here.

“We have to chart out our own model of economic policy which is more decentralised, sensitive to the needs of the villages, unemployed youths and which could maintain a semblance of balance between the cottage, small-scale and big industries,” he said. Without making any reference to the Central or state governments, the RSS chief said, “Only swadeshi policies, which are conducive to Indian conditions and situation will bring about all-round prosperity and a balanced development.”

Liberally quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Sudarshan said the country had the necessary resources and if these were diligently utilised, it could be self-sufficient in all spheres. Giving an example, the RSS leader said India imported Rs 2,000 crore worth urea from abroad and gave a subsidy of Rs 8,000 crore towards the indigenously produced fertilisers, knowing very well that the chemical fertilisers have eroded the fertility of the soil.

“The cattle was still an answer for the Indian agriculture as the cow dung of each cattle can take care of about 25 to 30 acres of land.....This traditional fertiliser (cow dung) will not degrade the fertility of the soil,” he said.

Commenting on the euphoria over information technology (IT), Mr Sudarshan called for a balanced development in all sectors. “Will the boom in IT alone will feed the country?” he asked.

Later, addressing a press conference, the RSS chief defended his call for “swadeshi churches” and Indianisation of Islam in the country. “Swadeshi church or Indianisation of Islam does not mean that they should not practise their religions. Christians and Muslims residing in India have not come from outside and they belong to the country.... What is wrong if they accept that Lord Ram and Krishna were their ancestors?” Mr Sudarshan said.

“Our suggestion was aimed at linking the people of the two communities residing in the country to the land, tradition and culture to which they belong,” he said. “The majority of the Christians are in the national mainstream. By forming a national church, they will only distance themselves from the politically-motivated anti-national activities of the foreign church. It is for them to decide whether they should form themselves into one or more churches,” he said.

Condemning the 36-page Vatican document presented during the World Peace Summit held recently in New York which said that there can be no salvation outside the Catholic church, Mr Sudarshan said a majority of the Christians in India do not accept that statement. “When they do not accept the ideology of the foreign churches, why don't they form a church of their own like in London and many other countries?” he asked.

Stating that swadeshi churches were needed so that the spiritual guidance of the citizens of India is not “corrupted by foreign financial control”, he alleged that the foreign churches are interested less in religion and more in politics. “It was because of this that Dr Joseph Cornellius Kumaruppa, the eminent Gandhian economist had once remarked that the western nations had four arms — the infantry, the Navy, the Air Force and the church,” he said.

On the Indianisation of Islam, he said, “Even in Islamic countries like Indonesia, the Muslim population revere Lord Rama and Krishna. Religion should bring people closer and the indigenization of churches and Islam will help a great deal in this,” Mr Sudarshan said.

Earlier, addressing the swayamsevaks, numbering about 50,000, the RSS chief cautioned them against “wilful campaign” against the organisation by some vested interests and asked them to strive ahead with their full might towards “Rashtra Nirman” (National Building). Exactly, 49,034 swayamsevaks from 7,066 villages from the “Brij Bhoomi” area had participated in the three-day Mahashivir, organised as part of the RSS’s diamond jubilee celebrations.