Amid efforts to reclaim Hindu temples, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday (19 December) criticized aspiring Hindu leaders for creating "Ram-temple-like" controversies in different parts of India.
Bhagwat said that India should be a model of inclusiveness and harmony for the world.
The Sangh chief was speaking at an event 'India- The Vishwaguru' in Pune.
Emphasizing India's pluralistic culture, Bhagwat mentioned how Swami Ramakrishnan Mission observes Christmas. He stated, "Only we can do this because we are Hindus."
"We have been living in harmony for a long time. If we want to provide this harmony to the world, we need to create a model of it. After the construction of the Ram Mandir, some people think they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up similar issues in new places. This is not acceptable," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI in its report.
He said Ayodhya's Ram temple was constructed because it was a matter of faith for all Hindus, excluding any political motivation.
"Every day, a new matter (dispute) is being raked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue. India needs to show that we can live together," he said without mentioning any particular site.
The RSS chief's comments come in the wake of several petitions filed in the court in the last few days seeking surveys of mosques to determine if they were constructed over temples.
Bhagwat said Indians should learn from past mistakes and strive to make their country a role model for the world.
He also said that some foreign groups have brought with them a strong determination, to reclaim their erstwhile rule.
"But now the country runs as per the Constitution. In this setup, people choose their representatives who run the government. The days of hegemony are gone," he said.
Quoting the Mughal Empire, Bhagwat contrasted Aurangzeb's rigidity with Bahadur Shah Zafar's decision to ban cow slaughter in 1857.
"It was decided that Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should be given to Hindus, but the British sensed it and created a rift between the two communities. Since then, this sense of 'algavwad' (separatism) came into being. As a result, Pakistan came into existence," he said.
Questioning the "language of dominance," Bhagwat asked what is its purpose if everyone identifies themselves as Indians.
Who is a minority, and who is a majority? Everyone is equal here. The tradition of this nation is that all can follow their own forms of worship. The only requirement is to live in harmony and abide by rules and laws," he said.
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