Indian Thought Latest News & Views
New Delhi: Though the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh talks about keeping itself away from politics, it is believed that in the current politics of the country, the wheels of power get some speed from the Sangh headquarters located in Nagpur. At the same time, questions have been raised from time to time on the attitude of the Sangh towards Muslims. Along with these questions, initiatives are also being taken to bridge the gap between the Sangh and Muslims. As part of these efforts, a big meeting of RSS and Muslims was held today in Haryana Bhawan, ( Haryana Bhawan Delhi. In this meeting, the top leadership of RSS including Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Dattatreya Hosabale, Krishna Gopal, Indresh Kumar and Ram Lal interacted with Muslim religious leaders and intellectuals.
RSS calls the meeting positive
This meeting was organised by Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, head of the All India Imam Organisation, in which 60 Imams, Muftis and Mohtamims (Vice Chancellors) of Madrasas were present. This meeting lasted for about three and a half hours and major national issues related to Muslims were discussed in it and it was agreed that this series of dialogue will continue. RSS called the meeting “positive” and said that it is part of a “continuous process” of extensive dialogue with all sections of the society, the objective of which is how all people can work together in the interest of the country. Sunil Ambekar, head of the national publicity and media department of the Sangh, said, “This is a continuous process of extensive dialogue with all sections of the society. Its main objective is how all people can work together in the interest of the country. Today’s discussion was also positive.”
Need to remove misunderstandings – Bakht
On this occasion, former Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad and grandson of Bharat Ratna Maulana Azad, Firoz Bakht Ahmed said that some misunderstandings need to be removed for better coordination between the two sides. This can be removed by both the sides in a consistent, concrete and cooperative manner. Firoz Bakht Ahmed is also considered a vocal supporter of RSS and BJP.
How can we win each other’s trust?
Consistent steps need to be taken by both the sides for how RSS and Muslims can win each other’s trust. Bakht said that the current Waqf Amendment Bill is the latest example of the growing lack of trust between the two sides. It is a good thing that this bill intends to remove the anomalies of the previous system. In the previous system, the common Muslim widow, poor student, needy senior citizen or any other helpless person never got any kind of help. The previous Waqf system was corrupt and rotten as its caretakers only looted the wealth of the helpless people. The present government has brought a positive change in it but naive Muslims are being told that the BJP will loot their mosques, madrasas, graveyards and orphanages etc., which is completely wrong. Confusion was spread among the people.
BJP missed a golden opportunity
Feroz Bakht Ahmed says that this was a golden opportunity for the government to take over the encroached Waqf property and build hostels for poor Muslims and widows on it. Apart from this, funds could also have been announced for poor students studying in courses like medicine, engineering, competitive exam coaching etc. This would have been the best way to restore trust between more than 20 crore Muslims and the Sangh Parivar.
Muslims should trust the RSS
Bakht said that Muslims have to change their anti-RSS/BJP ideology. During elections, they should not sing the tune of voting for the candidate who can defeat the BJP. Perhaps they do not know that this very act has consolidated the BJP vote. While Muslim votes are hardly consolidated. Ultimately, the BJP candidate wins and ignores Muslim areas, which he should not do.
Bhagwat, a well-meaning pacifist
When asked about Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Feroze Bakht said that he is a pacifist and a well-meaning spiritual leader of India who has never insulted Muslims. Rather, Bhagwat has always tried to build bridges between Muslims and RSS as he has been saying that India cannot be imagined without the contribution of Muslims in all walks of life. Muslims like Bhagwat because he said that Hindus should not look for a temple under every mosque. The past should be buried and now a new India is being built!
Muslims are trustworthy
Finally, Feroze Bakht said that both BJP and Muslims will remain strong here. India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the world as “Vishwa Guru”. Muslims need a lifeline from the regime and the RSS also needs their goodwill. He clearly stated for Muslims that a Muslim’s best friend is a Hindu and the best country for him is India. For Hindus, he said that Muslims are patriots and nationalists and should be trusted.
Jamiat hosted a dinner party for opposition leaders
Let us tell you that this meeting of RSS with Muslim leaders took place at a time when on Wednesday, a Muslim leader was invited to the Shangri-La Hospital in Delhi by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madni.
