Hindutva envisions a Bharat with Muslims, says RSS chief Bhagwat in New York
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says Hindutva includes Muslims, rejecting exclusionary views during a New York interfaith dialogue.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that the idea of Hindutva does not envision a Bharat without Muslims, and that any Hindu who believes otherwise would cease to be a Hindu. He was speaking at an interfaith gathering in New York City on Saturday, where he fielded questions from leaders of various communities.
During the dialogue, Mr. Bhagwat said Muslims had asked him whether the RSS's vision of a "Hindu Rashtra" would mean their expulsion from the country. He replied that such a view is not Hindutva. "If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslims in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu," he asserted.
Emphasising the unity of humanity, Mr. Bhagwat said that while religions may differ, humanity remains one. He pointed to India's tradition of sheltering people of all faiths and cited the RSS's service network as evidence of non-discrimination. According to him, around 1.3 lakh service projects are run by RSS volunteers across the country.
Recalling an incident in Dadri, Haryana, where two aircraft from Muslim-majority countries collided, Mr. Bhagwat said RSS volunteers were among the first responders. With all passengers dead, the volunteers helped arrange funerals and assisted relatives in identifying victims. "We don't have the thought that they are Muslims," he said, describing the organisation's approach to relief work.
The RSS chief said the organisation's philosophy replaces "me" and "mine" with "we" and "ours" as the basis for solutions. He also noted that the RSS has engaged more extensively with Muslims and Christians since 2018, describing dialogue and service as complementary steps.
Invoking spiritual teacher Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Mr. Bhagwat quoted him as saying, "As many ways, as many thoughts. All lead to one way." He argued that the unity of humanity is embedded in India's traditional thought and its Constitution.
Mr. Bhagwat cautioned that social change cannot be achieved through politics alone, which he described as having become "a game of self-interest." He said the RSS has chosen to start with society, adding, "We have started it."