RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks on the second day of 'Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective' in New Delhi on September 18, 2018. Credit: PTI
"Hindutva is not anti-Muslim. The RSS partners with everyone who loves India and its culture." But on the Sangh's Ayodhya agenda, he said the building of a Ram temple at the disputed site would remove an irritant in Hindi-Muslim relations.
New Delhi: At the end of the three-day address, it was clear that Mohan Bhagwat, the sarsanghchalak, or supremo, of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, used the conclave’s platform to portray the organisation as an evolving and inclusive one. In his endeavour, Bhagwat answered certain questions in a way which suggested the RSS was making significant departures from its earlier positions on some key questions.
For example, take his views on reservation, homosexuality and minority communities.
On minorities
On a question about whether the reservation policy for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should continue, Bhagwat said, “Reservations were introduced to address social inequities. And RSS supports it wholeheartedly. This was always the case, as opposed to some confusions that has been created.”
He added that whether the creamy layer should get reservation or not should be decided by the beneficiaries of the policy.
The confusion over the RSS’s views on reservation is mostly a byproduct of different standpoints articulated by several RSS leaders over time. Many have opposed the policy. Bhagwat’s remarks in 2015 that reservation should be reviewed also add to the confusion.
However, on Wednesday, he said “Reservation is not the problem, politics in the name of reservation is the problem.”
While saying law alone cannot reform the caste-ridden society, he added that the upper castes should forfeit their privileges to uplift those who are at the bottom of the social ladder.
Responding to a question on whether parliament should have nullified the Supreme Court order that diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the RSS chief said, “Atrocities are prevalent because of arrogance of upper caste groups and our social backwardness. There is an environment of atyachaar (atrocities). But that cannot be done away with only a law but by the society’s empathetic attitude. The Sangh encourages that. As far as law is concerned, it should be implemented well and also its misuse should be prevented.”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat with other leaders at an event titled the ‘Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective’ in New Delhi on September 17, 2018. Credit: PTI
On Section 377
When the topic moved on to homosexuality, which was decriminalised by the Supreme Court recently, Bhagwat said that people with different sexual orientation are an integral part of the society.
“Every individual in our society, despite a different language, different caste, separate religion, is a part of this society. They [LGBTQIA+] are also a part. One has to think over how to accommodate them in our society so that they live respectfully. We have to ensure that they do not get isolated and fall in the ditch.”
He, however, added that while the issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community need to be discussed, they are not the most important problems afflicting India. He chose not to repeat what many in the RSS have said – that homosexuality is “socially immoral” and “a psychological problem”.
On the communal narrative
On the RSS’s anti-Muslim stance, Bhagwat said that he and his organisation do not address or recognise Muslims as “minorities”.
“The word minority was never used before the Britishers came. I agree that after Independence the distance between Muslims and Hindus has increased. The RSS believes that those who have been distanced need to be be brought closer. Both the communities are India’s children.”
He further said, “I know that the RSS does not enjoy a good impression in Muslim society. I will only say one thing. Come and see the RSS from inside. Come without any fear. Hindutva is not anti-Muslim. The RSS partners with everyone who loves India and its culture. Our goal is to create an Indian society which respects all and accommodates all. There is another kind of danger. I want to tell you that if you come and see the RSS, there is a danger that you may become a part of RSS for life,” he said.
When asked about M.S. Golwalkar’s book Bunch of Thoughts in which he had identified Muslims as the enemy, he said, “Guruji has written many things in his book which were contextual at that time. The RSS is not a dogmatic organisation.
It has evolved with time. We recognise that time has changed. We are not like those who would go by each and every word of our founders. It is not like if (K.B) Hedgewar (RSS’ founder) has said something, we will follow only his words. Come and see how we have changed. We respect time.”
In what could be seen as a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “The issues like ‘Shamshan-Kabristan’ (cremation ground – graveyard) are such issues when politics is done only to grab power, not when political parties want to attain power to serve people.”
During the Uttar Pradesh assembly election campaign, Modi had said that the Samajwadi Party government provides land to Muslims to construct their graveyard while the Hindus are ignored when they ask for cremation grounds.
Similarly he said that the no one, including the gau rakshaks, have the right to take law into their own hands. He was answering a question on the killings of Muslims by so-called gau rakshaks.
However, he added that while there is a lot of criticism about the mob lynchings, there is hardly any talk about widespread cow smuggling.
Bhagwat also reiterated his stand that a grand Ram Mandir should be constructed in Ayodhya and that it has taken a long time to resolve the issue.
The three-day conclave by RSS in New Delhi is being considered as an effort to reach out to civil society groups which have opposed the organisation historically. Bhagwat appeared keen to clear the air on many of these issues. He answered questions which were submitted after his speech on Tuesday but no counter-questions were allowed.
Bhagwat’s views, which were articulated clearly, may create some stir within the Sangh parivar’s cadres, who have openly been consolidating (caste) Hindus against Muslims and assertive Dalits on the ground on a range of issues, many of which Bhagwat addressed.
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