‘Hindutva not linked to BJP poll gain’
Existing for thousands of years, it denotes spiritual society: Bhagwat
A discourse on “Hindutva” and how the BJP’s electoral gain or loss has nothing to do with “Hindutva,” which has existed for thousands of years, were part of the session that more than 50 columnists had with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday.
Mr Bhagwat, who became the first “S ar sanghc hal ak( head of the Sangh Parivar)” to visit the Gandhi Smriti in the national capital, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, said Hindutva means respecting the best in all faiths and Hindu dharma means living with harmony and self-restraint and described “openness” as the characteristic of a Hindu.
During his discourse, Mr Bhagwat, it was learnt, also sought awakening of Hindus, which he said should not be reactionary but a Hindu should be awakened in terms of practice.
Though he did not mention any elections, but he said his remarks regarding the BJP’s defeat or gain in any state should not be considered a defeat or victory of Hindutva. However, his remarks were perceived by many in context of the recent Assembly polls in Delhi, which the BJP lost again despite its efforts to polarise voters.
Mr Bhagwat, it was learnt, told the gathering that Hindutva has existed for thousands of years and it denotes a spiritual society.
On protests against the Modi government’s amended Citizenship Act, slammed by the Opposition as antiMuslim, Mr Bhagwat said one can like or dislike it, even stage protests against it but burning buses or damaging public property in the name of protests is not part of democracy.
The RSS chief, it was learnt, also highlighted how Indian flags and slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai” are being raised at sites where anti-CAA protests are being held. Mr Bhagwat also said that traditions cannot be forced on new generation, which needs to follow them on their own and also said that the main goal of education should not be earning but learning and said education should also be about one’s self.