RSS Chief Engages with Muslim Leaders in Delhi to Promote Communal Harmony

In a significant effort to foster better understanding and harmony between the Hindu and Muslim communities, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat is holding a meeting on Thursday with over 50 Muslim clerics and scholars at Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi.

This meeting carries considerable weight, given the persistent criticism directed at the RSS by opposition parties and civil society groups that charge the organisation with religious and cultural divisiveness.

Speaking to IANS on the condition of anonymity, a senior RSS member stated, “This is not the first instance of the RSS chief engaging with Muslim religious figures and intellectuals. The objective remains to reduce misunderstandings and foster an environment of peace and mutual respect.”

Sources reveal that other senior leaders from the RSS are also participating in this high-level dialogue, including Joint General Secretary Krishna Gopal and Indresh Kumar.

Indresh Kumar, notably, heads the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an RSS-linked platform that connects with Muslim leaders across the nation. Representing the Muslim community at the meeting are several key figures, including Umar Ahmed Ilyasi, who leads the All-India Imam Organisation, alongside various religious leaders and scholars.

It should be noted that the RSS has in the past organized such interactions with Muslim leadership. In 2022, during nation-wide discussions about the Gyanvapi mosque controversy, the hijab controversy, and population control fears, Dr. Bhagwat had organized meetings with several senior Muslim leaders, such as former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and former Chief Election Commissioner Dr. S.Y. Quraishi.

In a similar context, Dr. Bhagwat had stated in December last year, addressing controversies surrounding temples and mosques: "No one will become a leader of Hindus by fanning communal divide."

This was seen widely as an appeal for communal harmony and an attempt at lowering tensions between the Hindu and Muslim populace.