New Delhi: The Muslim outreach organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — under which senior functionaries are meeting Muslim leadership — is a comprehensive effort by the organisation for a ‘civilisational and cultural’ solution to the Hindu-Muslim conflict, according to the Sangh.
This effort, a senior RSS functionary told ThePrint, is unlike the outreach to specific Muslim groups, which have been politically focused and based on electoral benefit. Those, the functionary said, are short term solutions that will not work in the interest of the country in the long term, while explaining the significance of the two meetings that took place — once in Delhi earlier this month, and one in August last year — between a four-member RSS team and a nine-member team of Muslim intellectuals.
The senior functionary, who wished to not be named, said the next meeting would be held in April in Delhi as it is a process of discussing issues and ideas, and finding ways to alleviate conflict between the two communities. “This is the first such Muslim outreach that the Sangh has started. We are not looking for any electoral gains or any political benefit. We are not choosing any specific group of Muslims. We are reaching out to everyone who is interested in a long-term solution. We all are working for a social civilisational solution to this age-old communal conflict,” said the functionary.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has designated four senior functionaries — Krishna Gopal, Ram Lal, Manmohan Vaidya, and Indresh Kumar — to take the dialogue forward. The Muslim intellectuals include former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, former Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, and senior journalist Shahid Siddiqui.
Speaking to ThePrint, Quraishi said, “It is a beginning, a process has been initiated. We need better understanding with each other. There are certain misconceptions both sides have against each other and both sides are talking to their community leaders and spiritual leaders to bring down the sense of conflict.”
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Hindu Rashtra
While discussing various issues, the group of Muslim intellectuals brought up the instances of clashes, the aggression against each other (Hindu and Muslim), the mention of Hindu Rashtra and issues related to Kashi and Mathura .
“We have mentioned the incidents, the instigation by some RSS affiliates or fringe elements and (how) Muslims were targeted in places. We told them that these incidents vitiate the atmosphere. They have similar issues to raise with us. There has to be a command system, the spiritual leaders in temples and mosques have crucial roles to play. But these will not happen overnight. It takes time,” said Quraishi.
The issue of Hindu Rashtra was mentioned in the meeting. “Bhagwat ji and all senior functionaries explained that they don’t mean religion when they call all Indians Hindu and they talk about the same DNA and the same ancestors. They believe that all Muslim and Christians converts were Hindus and their ancestors are the same. We agree with them on this and this is a fair enough point. They said they cannot imagine a Hindu Rashtra without Muslims. They talk about more Muslim participation in the political process too,” added Quaraishi.
Outreach at multiple level
Another senior Sangh functionary, who is privy to the discussion between the RSS team and the group of Muslim intellectuals, said, “There is just one group of Muslim intellectuals which is opening up about the meetings. But we have held many such meetings with different groups, and they have not spoken yet. Sangh, on its own, will never talk about it openly. But the process is on and we are getting positive responses from all.”
“The Muslims are also tired of such daily conflicts and aggression. Everyone wants to work on a solution and a way forward. We are approaching mosque committees, Imams, professionals and groups at village, block and district levels. It has been happening routinely. So that we can preempt any incident that may derail the peace process,” he added.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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