Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat stated on Tuesday that every person living in the country is a 'Hindu,' that the DNA of all Indians is the same, and that there is no need for anyone to modify his way of performing rituals.
“We have been telling since 1925 (when RSS was founded) that everyone living in India is a Hindu. Those who consider India as their 'matrubhoomi' (motherland) and want to live with a culture of unity in diversity and make efforts in this direction, irrespective of whatever religion, culture, language and food habits, and ideology they follow, are Hindus,” news agency PTI quoted Bhagwat as saying.
In an address to Swayamsevaks (Sangh volunteers) in Ambikapur, the headquarters of Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, he emphasised unity in diversity as an age-old feature of India and claimed Hindutva is the only idea in the world that believes in bringing everyone together.
He stated that Hindutva ideology respects diversity and believes in human togetherness.
“Hindutva is the only idea in the entire world that believes in unifying diversities because it has carried such diversities together in this country for thousands of years. This is the truth and you have to speak it firmly. On the basis of it, we can be united. The Sangh's work is to build individual and national character and bring unity among people," added the RSS leader, PTI reported.
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He underlined the need of respecting everyone's faith and stated that all Indians have the same DNA and share shared ancestry.
"Despite having diversities we all are like one… We had common ancestors. Every Indian who is part of the 40,000-year-old 'Akhand Bharat' has common DNA. Our ancestors had taught that everyone should stick to their faith and rituals and not try to convert others' faith. Every path leads to a commonplace," Bhagwat explained.
The RSS chief urged people to respect all religious beliefs and customs.
"Respect everyone's religious beliefs and customs." Accept everyone and follow your own path. Fulfill your desires, but don't be so selfish that you neglect the well-being of others," he warned, PTI reported.
According to Bhagwat, the entire country fought the coronavirus outbreak together.
"Our culture binds us together. We become united in times of crisis, no matter how much we quarrel among ourselves. When the country is in crisis, we fight together. During the coronavirus outbreak, the entire country came together to deal with it," he stated.
(With Inputs From PTI)