Hindu nationalist body chief asks Indian Muslims not to get 'trapped in cycle of fear'

RASHTRIYA Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday (4) urged India’s Muslims to not get “trapped in the cycle of fear” that Islam is in danger in India. He asserted that the DNA of all Indians is the same.

Speaking at an event organised by the Muslim Rastriya Manch, which is inspired by the right-wing Hindu nationalist RSS, on the theme ‘Hindustani First, Hindustan First’ in Ghaziabad in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Bhagwat said, “Hindu-Muslim unity is misleading as they’re not different, but one. DNA of all Indians are same, irrespective of religion. We are in a democracy. There can’t be a dominance of Hindus or Muslims. There can only be the dominance of Indians.”

The RSS chief also said that people cannot be differentiated on the basis of how they worship. He added that those who lynched people were “against Hindutva” but acknowledged that at times, some false cases of lynching have been registered against people.

“Don't get trapped in the cycle of fear that Islam is in danger in India,” he said.

The RSS chief also cautioned that development is not possible without unity and stressed that the basis of unity should be nationalism and glory of ancestors. According to him, the only solution to Hindu-Muslim conflict is dialogue and not discord.

Not doing image makeover, says Bhagwat

Bhagwat also said while beginning his speech that he was at the event not for any image makeover or for playing vote-bank politics. He said neither the Sangh is into politics nor does it bother about maintaining an image. “It keeps on doing its work to strengthen the nation and for the welfare of all in the society,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh goes to assembly elections early in 2022.