Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has defended senior RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale over his recent remarks advocating dialogue with Pakistan, saying the comments were aimed at the people of Pakistan and not its political establishment.
Speaking during an interactive session in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as part of the RSS centenary celebrations on Saturday, Bhagwat clarified that the RSS does not have an independent foreign policy and follows the stand taken by the Union government regarding Pakistan.
“The RSS has no separate foreign policy. We follow the government’s policy regarding Pakistan,” Bhagwat said while responding to questions about Hosabale’s earlier comments that had sparked political debate.
‘Many in Pakistan Believe Partition Was a Mistake’
Explaining Hosabale’s position, Bhagwat said there are people in Pakistan who do not support the two-nation theory and believe the partition of India was wrong.
“There are many people in Pakistan who feel the partition of Bharat was a mistake. Some journalists there even appreciate the work of the RSS,” Bhagwat said.
He added that there is an “undercurrent” in Pakistan among people who believe India and Pakistan were better off together and oppose extremist ideologies.
“There are people who are against the two-nation theory and feel that living together was better,” he said.
‘We Are Not Like Hitler’: Bhagwat on Keeping Dialogue Open
Bhagwat said India should keep channels of communication open with Pakistan, even while strongly dealing with terrorism and injustice.
“We are not like Hitler. That is not our nature or our way. We should destroy injustice and tyranny, but preserve what is good,” Bhagwat said.
He argued that if India were to decisively defeat Pakistan in the future, maintaining dialogue would still be important for peace and stability.
“If Pakistan is defeated beyond repair someday, either its people will have to live peacefully there or they will need to be brought into the fold of Bharat. For that, doors of dialogue should remain open,” he added.
Hosabale’s Remarks Triggered Political Debate
The clarification comes weeks after Hosabale, in an interview with PTI in May, said India should remain open to talks with Pakistan while protecting national security.
“The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected. The government must take care of that. But at the same time, we need not shut the doors. We should always remain ready for dialogue,” Hosabale had said when asked about Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism.
His comments had triggered criticism from several opposition leaders, while some former military officials defended the need for diplomatic engagement.
