New Delhi

In his efforts to sort out differences and tensions between Hindus and Muslims of India, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said “Muslims have nothing to fear in India, but they must abandon their "boisterous rhetoric of supremacy."

His remarks came through an interview in the RSS mouthpieces Organiser and Panchjanya,

Bhagwat said 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.

"Hindu society has been at war for over 1,000 years, this fight has been going on against foreign aggressions, foreign influences, and foreign conspiracies. Sangh has offered its support to this cause, and so have others.

"There are many who have spoken about it. And it is because of all these that the Hindu society has awakened. It is but natural for those at war to be aggressive," Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat said India has been undivided (akhand) from the earliest times of recorded history, but was divided whenever the core Hindu sense was forgotten.

"Hindu is our identity, our nationality, our civilisational trait, a trait that considers everyone as ours; that takes everyone along. We never say, mine (philosophy, religion) is only true and yours is false. You are right at your place, I am right at mine; why to fight, let us move together -- this is Hindutva," 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.

All those who live here -- even a Hindu or a communist -- must give up this logic," he said.

Bhagwat said the Sangh has consciously kept itself away from day-to-day politics but always engaged with politics that affect "our national policies, national interest, and Hindu interest".

He also spoke in support of the LGBT community. Said they should have their personal space. The Sangh has to promote this approach. He said, “People with such tendencies have always been there, as long as man has existed. It is organic, a way of life.

Explaining the changes in his organization, he said, earlier our volunteers were not in positions of political power.

“However, whatever the Swayamsevaks do in politics, the Sangh is held accountable for the same. Even though we may not be directly related to others, there is some accountability because ultimately it is in the Sangh where the volunteers are trained. So, we are forced to think about how our relationship should be, what things we should pursue (in the national interest) with full dedication,” he said.

Bhagwat reminded me that earlier the Sangh was looked upon, but now those days are over.” The new-found acceptance has given us resources, convenience, and abundance.”

Bhagwat cautioned that the new circumstances, popularity, and resources must not be seen as more than necessary tools for work.

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“We should control them. We should not get addicted to them. Our old habit of facing difficulties should never be abandoned. Time is favorable, but it should not be proud.”