RSS-backed outfit’s meet has ‘ghar wapsi’ top on its agenda

NAGPUR: While RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was in news for visiting mosque and madrassas, Bharatiya Raksha Manch (BKM) — an organization supported by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP — is holding a three-day national meet in the city, with ghar wapsi of Muslims (conversion into Hindu fold) among the top agendas.
The meet is under way at Smruti Mandir complex of the RSS near Reshimbagh grounds. The BKM was formed in 2010 to deal with the problem of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
In the meeting, which had Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari as chief guest on the first day, voices were raised on Hindu rashtra. The “truth” that India is a Hindu nation cannot be denied, it was stressed.
“Muslims from India are given secondary treatment even during the Haj pilgrimage where they are still referred to as Hindus,” said BKM national vice-chairman Ranjeet Sangle.
BJP leader Satyanarayan Jatiya was elected as the new president of BKM on the first day. Gadkari in his speech said leaders should take utmost care before giving any statement. “If people in saffron attire say something, it doesn’t take time to evoke adverse reactions,” he said.
“Hindu culture values tolerance and acceptability,” said Gadkari, also making a point that it is time discrimination in the name of caste is done away with by the Hindu society. At the same time, India is not a dharamshala (inn) that anyone can infiltrate,” he said.
“There are concerns over increase in Muslim population — both due to illegal immigrations like that of Bangladeshi as well as procreation,” Sangle told TOI. “This can be tackled by bringing in uniform civil code so that polygamy becomes illegal. This would not be limited to control of population of a single community, however,” he said.
On the issue of conversions, he said it would be done keeping the legality in mind. “We are in talks with certain Muslim leaders through whom conversions to Hinduism may happen in groups, if not in masses,” he said.
“Our approach is to remind the Muslims of their roots. They have Hindu DNA and may have converted some couple of hundred years ago. Even in Mecca, they are referred to as Hindus and not Muslims,” he said.
Shankaracharya Swami Amritananada Devtheerth of Sharada Peeth, who also came for the meet, said offers for coming back into Hindu fold should come from them, instead of Hindus wooing Muslims to be converted. The religious seat of Sharada Peeth is located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Stressing that government should ensure access to the Sharada Peeth, he said, “People of Kashmir cannot be ruled by force. Rather, there needs to be cultural revolution of Hinduism. Establishments like gaushalas, and Sanskrit teaching centres need to be set up for brining a change. People should be reminded of their Hindu origin.”