RSS leaders shall continue to meet minority gentlemen: Bhagwat

Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghachalak (chief) Mohan Bhagwat said meetings with leaders of minority communities have been happening lately and shall continue. Speaking at the Vijaya Dashami function to mark the foundation day of the RSS, he also hit out at caste discrimination, saying there should not be any criterion based on social status to decide who is entitled to mount a horse or not.
Lately there have been events, especially in Gujarat, where persons of backward castes had to face violence after the groom mounted the traditional mare during wedding processions. “There should not be any discrimination on who should mount a horse or not with reference to certain traditions,” he said, calling untouchability an evil.
Bhagwat also stressed on maintaining the ethnic balance in the population, warning that otherwise it would lead to separate countries being carved out.
“Persons from the minority communities have been meeting the Hindutva fountainhead’s leaders with apprehension of harm from its side. Such meeting with the ‘gentlemen’ from the minorities with office-bearers of the Sangh will continue,” he said.
“There is scare mongering among the so-called minorities that there is a danger to them because of us organized Hindus. This has not happened in the past nor will it happen in the future,” said Bhagwat. This comes in line with his recent visit to mosques and madarsas.
Criticising the Udaipur and Amravati incidents of killings following disrespect of the Prophet, he said this was even condemned by certain sections among the Muslims. Opposition to such incidents should not be isolated. He said the Hindu society is generally assertive and will not spare even a Hindu on the wrong side. At times, RSS also has to wrongly face criticism of such acts by Hindus, he said.
Bhagwat also quoted Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, saying that without social equity real and stable transformation is not possible.
The function had veteran mountaineer Santosh Yadav as the chief guest, who became the first woman to be invited for the Vijaya Dashami function. Bhagwat said the RSS has always kept women on equal footing. Leaders like Anusuyabai Kale (member of second Lok Sabha from Nagpur) and Congress freedom fighter Princess Amrit Kaur too have been to RSS functions, he pointed out.