The Opposition on Sunday criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over his recent remarks on Muslims and religious diversity in India, accusing him of saying one thing abroad while following a different approach at home.
Bhagwat, during his ongoing visit to the United States, said that India’s diversity was part of its identity and that a Hindu who believes there should be no Muslims in India “will not remain a Hindu”.
His remarks were welcomed by the BJP, which said Bhagwat had presented the inclusive values of Hinduism to an international audience.
Opposition questions Bhagwat’s remarks
Several Opposition leaders asked Bhagwat to convey the same message in India and to BJP leaders and organisations that they accused of promoting communal tensions.
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the difference between Bhagwat’s remarks in the US and the RSS’s approach in India.
Sibal said Bhagwat appeared to “accept diversity abroad” while not tolerating it “at home”.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed also attacked Bhagwat, alleging that the RSS had a history of communal politics.
“My question to Mohan Bhagwat is: Why doesn’t he say this in India?” she said on X.
She also accused organisations such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal of targeting Muslims and Christians and alleged that BJP governments had used state machinery against minorities.
Owaisi questions RSS ideology
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned Bhagwat’s statement.
“This is the oldest trick in the RSS playbook: some words are for the world, and some are for its own members,” Owaisi said.
He questioned why the RSS had not clearly rejected the writings of its prominent ideologues, including M.S. Golwalkar, V.D. Savarkar and K.B. Hedgewar.
Owaisi referred to Golwalkar’s book Bunch of Thoughts and alleged that it described Muslims and Christians as “internal threats” to India.
“My request to Bhagwat is that he should just recite choice extracts from the poisonous works of Savarkar, Hedgewar, Golwalkar, etc. Let people decide what they make of the RSS,” he said.
Opposition leaders demand action in India
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose accused Bhagwat of “chilling duplicity” and said his words abroad should be followed by action in India.
CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan also questioned the RSS chief’s remarks, referring to alleged discrimination against Dalits and minorities in India.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said Bhagwat should communicate his message on diversity to BJP leaders and chief ministers, including Himanta Biswa Sarma, Yogi Adityanath and Suvendu Adhikari.
“If Mohan Bhagwat has truly had a change of heart, we welcome it,” Bharadwaj said.
RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha said Bhagwat’s message that India belongs to everyone should be brought back from the US.
“Muslims are not guests in their own country,” Jha said.
CPI general secretary D Raja also challenged Bhagwat to repeat his remarks in India.
“Going to America and making a statement is one thing, but making the same statement on our soil would make a difference,” Raja said.
BJP defends Mohan Bhagwat
The BJP strongly defended Bhagwat’s remarks.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said tolerance was a fundamental part of Hindutva and Hindu civilisation.
“Do not try to teach Hindus about religious tolerance. Tolerance runs in the blood of Hindus, and it is a fundamental aspect of Hindutva,” Fadnavis said.
BJP leader Nitin Nabin also welcomed Bhagwat’s comments, saying they reflected Hinduism’s inclusive character.
Former Union minister Smriti Irani said India’s diversity strengthened its unity.
“Bharat shows the world that diversity does not divide us… it decorates our oneness,” she said.
Bhagwat made the remarks while addressing Indian-American community members and interfaith leaders in New York. He said India had traditionally provided shelter to people of different faiths and stressed the importance of unity despite religious and cultural differences.
