BHOPAL: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has strongly criticized categorization of Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists as minority communities and termed it a conspiracy to divide Hindu society. On the third day of its think-tank meeting at Thengadi Bhavan here, RSS debated philosophy of Hindutva during which orators pointed out that Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists cannot be considered minority communities because they are part of the Hindu society.
About 25 organisational ‘pracharaks’ made presentations on Saturday after which RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Praveen Togadia addressed the gathering of 190 saffron thinkers.
Addressing the gathering Bhagwat said RSS does not consider Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists as different from Hindus. He argued Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life and concept of Hindu ‘rashtra’ (nation) and nationality comes from our ancient culture and tradition. He, however, pointed out that Hinduism has always bonded with other cultures and accepted different traditions. Hinduism teaches to bond with people.
While Bhagwat’s address was stately and exalted, Togadia gave a fiery speech. His discourse stretched from Indo-Pakistan relations, terrorism, Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya to the promises made in BJP manifesto. Once a close friend and now bete noire of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Togadia reminded BJP manifesto promised construction of a Ram temple, revoking article 370 from Kashmir and uniform civil code. He said he trusted the new government and the party will fulfill these promises.
Later, RSS national campaign chief Manmohan Vaidya called a press conference on Saturday afternoon stating that activists from not just RSS but allied saffron organisations like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), VHP, BJP were also participating in the six-day meet. He said the next meet of the RSS intellectuals is scheduled for Lucknow before Diwali.