Bali (Indonesia): The narrative around religious “persecution” of minorities in India was untrue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Ram Madhav said at an international summit Thursday, stressing that the country has always stood by the oppressed.
The former Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary addressed the closing ceremony of the G20 Religion Summit (R20) in Bali, Indonesia Thursday, announcing that the conclave’s next edition would be held in India in 2023.
The RSS’ national council member said India was the “best place” to take the summit forward.
Madhav said: “India is home to all the world’s religions. One hundred and eighty million Muslims live in India, making it the second or third country with the largest Muslim population. Far from the propaganda about persecution, India has always sheltered the persecuted, made Muslim leaders as President, Vice-President and Chief Justice of India.”
“They (Muslims) adorn many other important positions in India’s public life, something we don’t witness in other countries with respect to their minorities,” he said, adding that “India would have the world’s largest Muslim population by 2050”.
Ram Madhav has been key to organising the Religion Summit and represented India in Bali along with Ram Temple Trust treasurer Swami Govinda Giri, and other spiritual leaders.
Next R20 in India
The R20 is a unique summit that the Indonesian government made a part of the G20 Summit and has taken place for the first time in history.
Madhav told the gathering: “Bali is also a unique and perfect blend of religious harmony. The Chinese brought Buddhism and Taoism here, and the Javanese kings brought Hinduism. Islam came in with the later Muslim rulers. It is a living example of tolerance and coexistence – a province with 83.5% Hindu majority in a country with over 86% Muslim population.”
“There could not have been a better place to start this journey. And there couldn’t have been a better country than India – a mosaic of religions and the mothership of spirituality – to take it forward next year,” he added.
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