"Many people tried to destroy...but they all failed": RSS's Vaidya on 'Sanatana Dharam' row

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 16 (ANI): Reacting to the ongoing 'Sanatana Dharam' row, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya on Saturday said that many people have tried to destroy it but they all failed in their attempts, adding that word 'Dharam' cannot be translated into 'religion' in English.
"They are talking about destroying Sanatana Dharam. Dharam does not mean religion. We should find out what is in the minds of those who keep talking like this. There were many people who tried to destroy Dharam but they failed in their attempt," Manmohan Vaidya said in a media interaction held in Pune. 
The row over 'Sanatana Dharam' started after Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin called for its eradication while comparing it to diseases like dengue. 
The BJP has been targeting the Opposition INDIA bloc over Udhayanidhi's comment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently taking the attacking role on Thursday while addressing rallies in Chattisgarh's Raigarh and Madhya Pradesh's Bina, accusing the alliance of having a hidden agenda of "disintegrating Sanatana Dharam".
On India vs Bharat row, the RSS Joint General Secretary strongly pitched for Bharat as the country's name. 
"Bharat should be Bharat, no country has two names. Our country has been known as Bharat since ancient times," Vaidya.
On the Uniform Civil Code, Vaidya said that if consensus can be reached over it then the society can move forward. 
On reservation in government educational institutions and jobs, he said that there still exist social inequalities that should be ended soon and SC/ST communities have been deprived for generations so they should get the necessary facilities.
On ethnic violence in Manipur, he said that the situation is worrying and that the state government is working to normalise the situation. 
Meanwhile, reacting to Sanatana Dharam row, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that no power in the world can destroy Sanatana Dharma. 
"It is very unfortunate...Santana Dharma has given the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', meaning the whole world is our family...Our mothers and sisters when they knead the dough and if an ant passes nearby give it a small portion of flour to eat...Sanatana Dharma is eternal. No power in the world can destroy it," Rajnath Singh said in UP's Lucknow. (ANI)