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RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has rationalised and almost justified the sharp rise in communal sentiment and strife, and the impunity of Hindutva mobs, in an interview to the house journal, Organiser.
“Hindu society has been at war for over 1,000 years ― this fight has been going on against foreign aggressions, foreign influence and foreign conspiracies. The Sangh has offered its support to this cause, so have others. There are many who have spoken about it. And it is because of all these that Hindu society has awakened. It is but natural for people at war to be aggressive.”
Significantly, he also referred to Italy and its 19th century general, Guisseppe Garibaldi, also long-revered by the Sangh for his role in the Italian unification: “Garibaldi led the war, but once fighting stopped, he wanted others to lead. At the end, when they had to choose a monarch, Garibaldi refused the mantle and said it should go to someone else. Of the three leaders who rose to prominence during Italy’s rise, it was Garibaldi who led on the battlefield. However, at the end, he distanced himself, saying, this is not my job.” The Sangh’s open admiration for Benito Mussolini if Italy and Adolf Hitler of Germany has been minutely documented by scholar ….. in …… In fact BS Moonje, founder of the RSS’ inspired and funded Bhosle Military Academies ater his ten day visit to Italy during the reign of Benito Mussolini. Mussolini an Hitler’s aggressive and exclusionary brand(s) of nationalism is what has inspired Sangh ideologues and cadres, alike.
Over the past week, Bhagwat has spoken often and audibly. The speculation that prime minister, Narendra Modi is now the voice that dominates dominant the sangh parivar, and not the Sarsanghchalak, may have been a factor that pushed Mohan Bhagwat to address this to his supporters, who may be “in awe of” Modi’s personality. The Caravan from November: ‘Bhagwat eclipsed’.
On Muslims and India
Seemingly out of the blue, Bhagwat, in the same interview given to both Organiser and Panchjanya controversially also said that while Muslims have nothing to fear in India, but they must abandon their “boisterous rhetoric of supremacy”.
In an interview to Organiser and Panchjanya, Mr. Bhagwat said, “The simple truth is this, Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan. There is no harm to the Muslims living today in Bharat… Islam has nothing to fear. But at the same time, Muslims must abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy.”
“We are of an exalted race; we once ruled over this land, and shall rule it again; only our path is right, rest everyone is wrong; we are different, therefore we will continue to be so; we cannot live together; they (Muslims) must abandon this narrative. In fact, all those who live here whether a Hindu or a communist must give up this logic,” the RSS chief said.
Reacting sharply to the remarks, senior advocate, Kapil Sibal said on Twitter, “Bhagwat: ‘Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan’, Agree. But: Insaan should remain Insaan.” Mr. Bhagwat also stated (sic) the new-found aggression among Hindus the world over was due to an awakening in the society that has been at war for over 1,000 years.
On the LGBTQIA communities
On “LGBT people” Bhagwat said “they had the right to live, without much hullabaloo”, and had “always been accommodated in society”. There was no need for a fuss about them.
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Mohan Bhagwat and Indian Muslims