Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said it is a matter of pride to be recognized as a Hindu since it transcends religious connotations and touches upon deep roots with the nation's cultural, spiritual, and civilizational legacy.
RSS Sahakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale made these remarks during a press conference after the ABPS gathering ended on Sunday in Bengaluru.
"From the Sangh point of view, being known as a Hindu organization is by no means something to be ashamed of. Like millions of workers, I am proud to be referred to as a Hindu. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. 'Hindu' is not merely a religio-label; it is a nationalist expression. It indicates a cultural, spiritual, and civilizational identity. It is the country and civilization of this land.". With time, this perception is finding increasing acceptance in Bharat, which we take as a positive trend," Hosabale said.
He also talked about the ongoing attempts at uniting Hindu society, recognising the obstacles in its diversity and complexities. Nevertheless, he indicated considerable headway through the involvement of the masses as well as intellectuals.
"Today, there is increasing realisation that an organisation of Hindu society is not only possible but possible. There is a renewed interest in the community with regard to its overall welfare and progress," he declared.
Hosabale also emphasized the increased confidence in Hindu society. "Earlier, because of pseudo-secularism and contorted historical narratives, people were confused about their identity. But today a confident and dynamic Hindu society is on the horizon. That being said, the Sangh is keen to point out that this newfound confidence doesn't mean all our problems have been solved. Self-correcting still has to happen.". Issues like untouchability and women's position in society are issues that need to be addressed. Even as Hindu society is waking up, these issues persist, and the Sangh intends to work on them," he said.
Responding to the current controversy surrounding the Waqf Bill, he said, "The government has constituted a joint commission to examine the Waqf issue, and we are waiting for its report. The Sangh's concerns are not one-off; in Karnataka, for example, farmers cutting across political lines have protested, alleging that their lands were taken over. This has become a big issue."
Hosabale said that the Waqf Board has already issued a notification stating that the Windsor Manor, a Bengaluru hotel, is its property. "These are not one-off incidents. The idea of a joint commission to probe these cases is in the right direction. We will watch how the case goes."
Coming to the functioning of the Union government, he stated, "Things are going smoothly so far.". The RSS doesn't interfere with the day-to-day functioning of the government. But when some issue comes up for which the people are concerned, there is a mechanism in place to solve the problem. If needed, the RSS will definitely speak up.
Currently, everything appears to be going fine, and there isn't an immediate necessity for any review, particularly regarding national security and foreign relations."
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