Amidst raging controversy over the involvement of a BJP IT Cell member in spying for Pakistan’s ISI, the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that no one has the right to judge others’ patriotism.
“Doosre ki bhakti naapne ka adhikar kisi ko nahin hai, mujhe bhi nahin hai (No one has the right to measure anybody’s patriotism. I too don’t have the right),” Bhagwat said yesterday while releasing a book here.
“Even if you think that you are running the show in the country, you cannot measure anybody’s patriotism, or after evaluating it come out with a judgment on it that if this is the kind of ‘bhakti’ (devotion) you have, then it is patriotism, otherwise it isn’t,” Bhagwat was quoted by PTI.
Bhagwat’s latest comments are in sharp contradiction to the BJP leaders’ habit of frequently label those anti-nationals, who criticised the Centre’s Narendra Modi government.
Several high profile names including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan have had to pay heavy prices for criticising the Modi government policies.
Many top BJP functionaries including some cabinet ministers have in the past have asked Modi’s critics to go to Pakistan.
However, the arrest of Dhruv Saxena, who has been working in BJP’s IT Cell since last year, for spying for Pakistan has left the right-wing Hindutva brigade in an awkward position.
He unveiled the book ‘Bharat ki Khoj Me Mere Paanch Saal’ authored by journalist Vijay Monohar Tiwari.
Earlier, addressing the Hindu Sammelan in Betul district three days ago, the RSS Chief had said, “Whoever lives in Hindustan and has respect for its traditions, are all Hindus.
Muslims may have different way of performing prayers, but their nationality is Hindu.”
“All Hindus are accountable for Hindustan,” he had added.