NEW DELHI: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remarks on Hindu-Muslim unity, alleging that the RSS projects a different image of itself to the world while the writings of its key thinkers reflect a different view of minorities.Owaisi’s remarks came a day after Bhagwat, speaking at at event in New York, said that a Hindu who believes Muslims should not live in India would not remain a Hindu.Reacting to the remarks, Owaisi said, “This is the oldest trick in the RSS playbook: some words are for the world, and some are for its own members. The RSS has never disavowed its key thinkers and writers. What do they say about Muslims and other minorities?”Owaisi referred to a biography of RSS founder K B Hedgewar, published by the RSS, to claim that Hedgewar had opposed the Congress’s emphasis on Hindu-Muslim unity.Quoting from the biography, Owaisi said, “Gandhiji worked constantly with one eye on Hindu-Muslim unity… But Doctorji sensed danger in that move. In fact, he did not even relish the newfangled slogan of ‘Hindu-Muslim Unity’.”The AIMIM chief also cited former RSS chief M S Golwalkar’s writings, referring to his book Bunch of Thoughts and its chapter titled ‘Internal Threats’.“Golwalkar’s ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ has a long chapter titled ‘Internal Threats’, in which Muslim and Christian citizens of India are described as threats number one and two, respectively,” Owaisi said.He also referred to Golwalkar’s statement that the Sangh was “inspired by one flag (saffron), one leader and one ideology”.Owaisi alleged that the RSS did not contribute to India’s freedom struggle and claimed that Hedgewar left the Congress because he opposed the participation of different religious communities in the anti-British movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.Owaisi also invoked the 2002 Gujarat riots while criticising the RSS, asking, “Should we forget what happened to the Muslims of Gujarat under the RSS’s proxy rule?”He alleged that Muslims and Christians continued to face discrimination and claimed that Muslims were being subjected to Hindu law in the name of the Uniform Civil Code, while Christians were being targeted through “draconian” anti-conversion laws.The AIMIM chief also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).Earlier on Saturday, addressing the ‘One World One Humanity’ event in New York, Bhagwat said different religions may follow different paths, but humanity and truth remain one. “We come from a society that believes humanity is one,” he said.“If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings,” Bhagwat had added.Bhagwat also used the occasion to speak about perceptions of the RSS. He said the organisation was often viewed through narratives that, in his view, did not reflect its work on the ground.
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“There are many perceptions created by wrong narratives. But when you come and see us from inside, all those will be disbelieved in the day.”The RSS chief was speaking in New York as he began a three-nation global outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The visit has been organised as part of the organisation’s centenary year celebrations, following invitations from overseas local organisations.
