New Delhi: For years, this has been the sub text of the far supremacist right. And now, close to one month before the inauguration of the RSS-inspired Ram Temple at Ayodhya (that has been built on the back of a violent agitation and demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992), an influential leader of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) has said, Next year, 2025 will mark one hundred years to of the outfit born in 1925, with close links to thr Hindu Mahasabha.
Muslims and people belonging to other religions should voluntarily hand over all disputed religious sites to the Hindu community, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar is quoted as saying in an interview.
In an interview with PTI, reported by the Deccan Herald, he has said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat was very clear when he said “there is no need to find Shivling in every mosque”.
“Bhagwat’s statement was aimed at putting an end to mutual conflict so that society can think and reflect while being free from hatred and violence,” Kumar said.
Kumar, who is also the RSS’ national executive member and patron of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, said temples belonging to the followers of ‘Sanatan’ were demolished by foreign invaders.
“What Mohan Bhagwat said is very clear. There is no need to search, the truth is in front of everyone. Everyone should accept that truth,” he said. “Muslims and people belonging to other religions should come forward and hand over the disputed religious places of Hindus to the Hindu community,” Kumar added. This is a curious twist to Bhagwat’s words.
Kumar said there is an atmosphere of happiness not only in the country but across the world with the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
“Ram temple is for everyone…Ram temple (Ayodhya) is a national temple. Ram is for all and in everyone. India is a nation which accepts and respects all religions. Therefore, it is (right) to call it (Ram Temple) a national temple,” he said.
In April 2003, Communalism Combat had published a “list of such disputed sites” made available by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an affiliate of the RSS, laying “claims” to these sites. The article may be read here.
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