‘Hindu Who Wants No Muslims in India Ceases to Be Hindu’: Mohan Bhagwat

A Hindu who thinks there should be no Muslims in India "ceases to be a Hindu," according to RSS president Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday. He emphasised that Hindutva preserves the dignity of every human being and acknowledges that diverse paths might lead to the same goal.

Speaking at the "One World, One Humanity" meeting of faith leaders in New York, Bhagwat stated,

"During my lecture series in Delhi in 2018, I was questioned by numerous Muslim brothers in attendance, 'You are a Hindu organisation. You mention Hindu Rashtra. How about us Muslims? Will you force us to leave?' 'No, that is not Hindutva,' I informed them. Any Hindu who believes that there should be no Muslims in India is no longer a Hindu."

"If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths lead to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings."

Bhagwat recalls RSS role in Haryana plane crash

Bhagwat recalled an instance in which two aircraft from Arab nations collided over Haryana. He added that RSS personnel were among the first to arrive at the crash site, where they assisted survivors and performed the last rites of the deceased.

"We did not think that they were Muslims. Had we been in politics, we would not have been able to do it," he said, adding that the RSS did not seek publicity for such work. "There are perceptions created because of wrong narratives. But when you come and see us from inside, all those will be dispelled within a day."

Bhagwat begins three-nation outreach visit from US

At the invitation of international and local groups celebrating their centenary, Bhagwat arrived in New York earlier this week for the first phase of his three-nation global outreach journey to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The "Universal Oneness Celebration" in New York was an interfaith event where RSS president Mohan Bhagwat engaged with a broad, multicultural and multifaith audience, according to a statement made on Wednesday by Sunil Ambekar, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh.

According to Ambekar, the event was planned with an emphasis on mutual respect and open communication, which reflects the inclusiveness of Bharatiya culture.

According to him, the programme is part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's long-standing efforts to foster understanding and a common goal with many communities in India and around the globe.

"The Universal Oneness Celebration in New York exemplifies an interfaith gathering where RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat ji will communicate with a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. Organised in the spirit of open dialogue and mutual respect, the event reflects Bharatiya ethos, which is fundamentally inclusive and welcoming to all," he said in a post on X.