RSS chief claims everybody living in India is Hindu

ISLAMABAD: Indian right wing extremist outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has claimed that anybody living in India, including Muslims, is a Hindu. “The Muslims in India are also Hindus.”

He asserted on Sunday that the meaning of Hindutva is to unite all communities. The RSS is an arms-wing of the ruling BJP of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and known for its anti-Muslim activities since long. He was of the view that Hindutva is different from Hinduism. He said this in a public function at the Swami Sivekananda Maidan in the heart of Tripura’s capital--Agartala. “The Muslims in India are also Hindus,” the RSS Sarsanghchalak said.

Bhagwat, who is on a five-day tour of Tripura since Friday to review the organisational work of the RSS in the north-eastern region, said, “We have no enmity with anyone. We want welfare of all. To unite all is the meaning of Hindutva.” Maintaining that India is a land of Hindus, he said "tortured" Hindus from across the world come to the country and get shelter. The RSS supremo said, “Hindus believe in truth, but the world respects strength. There is strength in organisation. Being organised is the natural law.” Referring to the partition, he said parts of India got separated in 1947, leading to the weakening of the spirit of Hindutva, and a decline of the “Hindu Samaj”. “India was united for so long. There was unity among the Hindus,” Bhagwat said.

Highlighting the rich heritage of the country, he said, “A perturbed and confused world is looking at India for a new world order that can accommodate the materialist as well as the idealist.” He urged the Hindus to get organised and trained at RSS “shakhas” (daily meetings), saying these were the only places where one could prepare for nation-building and self- development.

The "sanatan dharma" wants to work together with everybody on board, Bhagwat said. The Left Front-ruled Tripura is scheduled to go to polls early next year, and the BJP is making a serious bid to increase its footprint in the north-east. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have BJP governments.