New Delhi

Zafar Sareshwala, an industrialist and social activist from Gujarat, who, by his own admission, was once close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that if Muslims want a resolution to their problems, they must initiate dialogue with the Hindus at a non-political level.

Speaking in a News television debate, Sareshwala said Muslims must acknowledge the fact that 85 per cent of the population of India is Hindu. Also, the RSS is the biggest Hindu organisation, and the BJP is one of its organs.

He said Muslims must also realise that all the top functionaries of the government - the Prime Minister, Speaker (Lok Sabha), Vice President, and most Chief Ministers are from the RSS.

He said, logically speaking, if Indian Muslims have problems, they must start a dialogue with Hindus at a non-political level. “Muslim businessmen, industrialists, professionals, academicians, etc. must get into a dialogue with their peers from the Hindus.”

He was speaking about Congress condemning Bollywood superstar Salman Khan for attending the RSS meeting and calling it “akin to joining a hate-spewing meeting.”

On this, Sareshwala said he has experience of interacting with the RSS and shared it. He said back in 2017, he was invited by Mohan Bhagwat’s brother, an RSS leader, for an interaction with the Military leaders at the Sangh’s headquarters in Nagpur.

“मुझे नागपुर में RSS के दफ्तर में ही नमाज़ पढ़ने की सुविधा दी गई”

संघ के नाम पर मुसलमानों को डराने वाले एक बार Zafar Sareshwala को ज़रूर सूनें। pic.twitter.com/H8rxH9CtnL

— Aman Chopra (@AmanChopra_) February 11, 2026

“I had only one condition that I must get a 45-minute one-to-one meeting to discuss the socio-economic problems of Muslims with Bhagwat, which was accepted.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Since the meeting went on till late, he had to spend the night in Nagpur, and RSS had made arrangements for his stay at its headquarters. “I asked them the directions to a local mosque where I could say Namaz. To my surprise, they had not only readied a white prayer mat for me but also directed me to the direction of Kabba.”

This experience further strengthened his belief that there is no better way for Muslims in the country than dialogue, and there could be no better initiator than an organisation like the RSS.He also said on the TV programme that in his office, he too had opened a prayer room where people of all religions could pray. “It was not exclusive to the Muslims to read Namaz.”

Sharing his experiences, Sareshwala said this idea was also influenced by his friend, the late Munawwar Rana. Rana used to recount how, during Ramadan, he made elaborate arrangements for breaking the fast and offering prayers at the home of Tarun Vijay, former editor of Panchjanya magazine. This demonstrates that dialogue and tolerance are not limited to formal meetings, but can also be fostered through personal initiatives, friendships, and social connections.

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He also stated on the TV show that Muslims in the country must understand who holds the power to influence and make decisions. ‘Political or social leadership isn't limited to those in power; it also extends to those who influence society and the community. Therefore, only through a process of dialogue can lasting and effective solutions to problems be found.’