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Journalism of Courage
The RSS joined the BJP Tuesday in criticising Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during interactions abroad, which have stalled Parliament over the past two days.
“Rahul Gandhi is a politician, he should speak more responsibly… He may have his own political agenda,” RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said, briefing the media on the final day of the three-day meeting of the Sangh’s apex body All India Pratinidhi Sabha here.
Commenting on Rahul’s statement that democracy was under threat in India, Hosabale added: “His ancestors too have taken some actions against the Sangh. But people know the truth… I was in jail during the Emergency. Those who turned the country into a jail and never apologised for it, should they have the right to talk about democracy is something that the public must decide. How is democracy under threat? There are elections happening across the country.”
Hosabale added: “The National Education Policy was formed by the government after taking suggestions from across the country. There were also policies made through the National Advisory Council (which was headed by Sonia Gandhi during the UPA era). Non-members became chairmen and crores from the exchequer were spent. Was that democracy? That is why I keep saying, we will keep doing our work… haathi aage chalta rahega.”
In response to a question on RSS leaders’ meetings with prominent Muslim personalities, Hosabale said there was no outreach by the RSS, but if anyone wanted to engage with the organisation, it was ready.
“As and when there is an invitation from that side… there is a visible inclination from their side… that they want to meet us… we respond accordingly. The initiative is from that side. There is no outreach from the Sangh. We are only responding to positive steps from that side,” Hosabale said.
“They trust the RSS, some people don’t. So those who trust us are acceptable to us. We meet them. There is no harm in meeting and having tea together. We consider the whole world a family. We have no differences with any faith or religion. All must work for the interest of the nation is our only resolve,” Hosabale added.
The RSS has always said this, he said. “If someone wants to meet us, we will meet. We meet Muslims, we meet Christians, we meet foreigners. When people meet, discussions happen. This is democracy.”
In August last year, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had held talks with former Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi, former Rajya Sabha MP Shahid Siddiqui, ex-AMU vice-chancellor and Lt Gen (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah and businessman Saeed Shervani.
The latest meeting was held in January this year when senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal met Muslim leaders, including those from the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. At this meeting, the possibility of an amicable resolution of Kashi and Mathura issues was raised. According to sources, to the Muslim side’s question as to whether that would ensure there were no further demands for any other site, RSS leaders had said they could not guarantee the thinking of the Hindu society in the future.
Bhagwat has also made other overtures towards the community such as his statement that the DNA of Hindus and Muslims is the same, and that disputes should not be raised over every mosque.
