Minorities should visit our shakhas to see how they work: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke on a number of issues related to Sangh and invited the delegates to visit Sangh before they make the opinion. In the context of the issue of Muslims and RSS, he said that Sangh has changed over a period of time and Muslims are very much part of RSS's vision. He said that certain lines from 'Bunch of Thoughts' written by Hedgewar have been removed because they were contextual.

"Only eternal and timeless thoughts have been kept and reproduced by us, " he said. He also said that the idea of change itself was instilled by Hedgewar. He also took the opportunity to say that all sections of minorities are invited to visit RSS shakhas to see how they work.

He also said that RSS is committed to the idea of reservation in the Constitution. "We have been misinterpreted number of times. The reservation will continue till the time those who are getting it decide that they do not require it anymore," said Mohan Bhagwat. BJP had lost Bihar assembly elections because of Bhagwat's statement on the reservation.

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RSS also made it clear that they are opposed to article 370 and they would continue to oppose it. Bhagwat also spoke on the issue of 370 and did not support the Supreme Court verdict fully. He said that society has changed and those who believe in alternative sexuality cannot be sidelined but declined to support it wholeheartedly. He contextualized his answer by medicalising the issue and called it a problem. His statement shows that RSS still has the reservation on this issue.

On the issue of Ayodhya, he said that Ram temple must be built soon and the matter should not have taken so much time. He also addressed the issue of RSS and politics. A question which I asked," If RSS is removed from politics then how come to organisational Secretary to BJP is always from RSS." Mohan Bhagwat replied in a lighter vein," We give Sangathan Mantri to those who demand it. Till now no other political party has demanded it. If a demand comes then it will be considered. He said that RSS will stay away from politics."

Bhagwat also spoke on the issue of demographic balance. He said that demographic balance must be maintained in India and there should be a proper study in this regard. "Infiltration is one big cause of demographic change and it must be stopped at any cost," he said.

He also said that violence in the name of cow protection is unacceptable. But he reiterated his commitment towards cow protection. RSS also walked a tightrope on language policy. He said that RSS is not opposed to English but Hindi as a language should be promoted but not at the cost of regional languages.

He also spoke on the issue of the way RSS is run. He said that RSS chief does not enjoy any powers and it is the number two who calls the shot. " I can be the boss for a lifetime and chose another boss but I do things as per the elected number two. We elect are number 2 every three years. All that I spoke in three days was discussed with senior office holders. What I speak is the consensus within the organisation. This is what RSS is. The consensus is core to the RSS functioning," he said.

This was an RSS attempt to reach out to the intellectuals and do away with misconceptions about it. Throughout three days, the focus remained on Sangh's commitment to character building and its commitment to work at the societal level.