Seeking to put the records straight and allay apprehensions regarding its ideology, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday defined Hindu as one who seeks to accepts all and integrates with all even as he affirmed that excluding or rejecting any community like Muslims would deprive the term Hindu of its essence.
Speaking on the second day of the lecture series organised by the RSS here, Bhagwat said the concept of Hindu is all-encompassing — seeking everyone to walk together and wishing ‘Kalyan’ (well being) of the entire universe.
“Hindu Rashtra hai isliye Musalman nahin chalega isse Hindupan nahin rahega (thinking that a Muslim has no place in a Hindu Rashtra will kill the essence of Hinduness),” the RSS leader made it clear while giving a liberal exposition of the Hindu concept.
He said though the term Hindu was first used in the 9th century, it carried with it the substance of ‘Sanatan Dharm’ (eternal religion) that guides ‘Bharat’ since ancient times.
“‘Bharat celebrates diversity and follows it, this is the Hindu message,” he said.
In a significant comment, the Sangh leader said, “The RSS will first organise Hindus and then organise all other communities.”
He said it is like in an exam where one first attempts easy questions and thereafter, takes up tough questions. “None is our enemy,” he said in a clear message to remove any misgiving that it was anti-Muslim.
The RSS chief said Indian philosophy and thought sees truth in all religions and it is this strength and substance that had sustained us through the centuries “even when we were invaded”.
Bhagwat said Indian unity is reflected in the Constitution and Sangh respects it.
Seeking to define its relation with the BJP, Bhagwat asserted that RSS never asks its volunteers to work for any particular party but does advise them to back those working in the national interest.
He said there is a perception that the RSS plays a key role in the functioning of a particular party, a reference to the BJP, because of the presence of many of its workers in that organisation, but it is wrong.
“We never ask swayamsevak (volunteer) to work for a particular party, we do ask them to back those working in national interest. RSS keeps away from politics but has views on issues of national interest,” Bhagwat said adding the Sangh believes the centre of power should remain as envisaged in the Constitution and that it considers it wrong if it is not so.
