Oppn lashes out at Bhagwat’s remarks at Hindu Congress

NAGPUR/NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks over the consolidation of Hindus invited criticism from Opposition parties on Saturday, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav defended the statement.

Speaking at the second World Hindu Congress in the United States on Friday, Bhagwat had said Hindus had no aspiration of dominance and the community would prosper only when it worked as a society.

“If a lion is alone, wild dogs can invade and destroy the lion. We must not forget that,” the RSS chief had said.

Attacking Bhagwat over his remarks, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the RSS was demeaning others.

“The RSS is trying to demean people by calling others dogs and assuming themselves as the tiger,” Owaisi said.

Meanwhile, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar said, “I condemn this ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Mohan Bhagwat that he has referred to Opposition parties in the country as dogs.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The ideology of RSS and BJP is anti-Hindu and they only know how to do caste politics. The day they stop dividing Hindus on the basis of caste, every Hindu and people from

other religions as well will be lions.”

Congress leader Sachin Sawant said, “RSS ideology is antiHindu. It is known for hatred towards other castes and religions. It is shameful of the RSS chief to describe any religion in this way.”

However, Madhav defended Bhagwat and said that the RSS chief has always spoken for the welfare of Hindu society and the country.