Congress welcomes RSS chief’s ‘Hindu is all-embracing’ remark

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said a Hindu was one who was all-embracing, irrespective of caste, faith or dietary practices, the Congress welcomed the statement and said it hoped the Sangh Parivar was listening.

“I welcome Bhagwat’s statement. I sincerely hope that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, ABVP, Bajrang Dal, BJYM, Hindu Rashtra Sena, Hindu Munnani and other affiliated or frontal organisations of the RSS will learn the important lesson and faithfully abide by it,” veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram said.

He added: “Let us see how far Mr Bhagwat’s lesson has percolated and influenced the rank and file of the RSS and its affiliated or frontal organisations.”

Mohan Bhagwat has of late made terse comments about the state of national politics, covertly even admonishing the ruling BJP to take everyone along and not treat political opponents as enemies.

The RSS supremo has been batting for the need for humility in higher echelons of power in remarks that have been widely seen as meant for the Sangh’s political protege BJP.

Bhagwat recently said no one should arrogate to themselves the attributes of God, a comment the Congress said was directed at PM Narendra Modi who, in the run up to Lok Sabha polls, claimed that he was not born biologically.

Bhagwat has also been flagging the persistent law and order challenges in Manipur, urging for the restoration of peace and had very recently noted that the situation in the state was difficult.

On more occasion than one in recent times, the Congress has found itself concurring with the chief of RSS, an institution party leader Rahul Gandhi continues to flag as divisive.

Speaking in Alwar on Sunday, Bhagwat had said: “Being Hindu means to be generous and show goodwill to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, caste or dietary practices.”