Opposing BJP Doesn't Amount To Being Opposed To Hindus: RSS Leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi

Speaking at an event in Goa, Joshi said that the opposition to BJP is a political ideology and it must not be considered as opposition to Hindus.

New Delhi: In a major statement amid the ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi, on Sunday, said that opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party is not synonymous to opposing Hindus. Speaking at an event in Goa, Joshi said that the opposition to BJP is a political ideology and it must not be considered as opposition to Hindus. "We should not consider opposition to BJP as opposition to Hindus. It is a political fight that will continue. That should not be linked with Hindus," he said responding to a question- 'Why Hindus are becoming the enemy of their own community?'. "Your question says that Hindus are becoming enemy of Hindu community, means BJP. Hindu community does not mean BJP," he said. "A Hindu fights against a fellow (Hindu) because they forget the religion. Even Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj faced opposition from his own family," he said. "Where there is confusion and self-centered behaviour, there is opposition," he said. "Some claim that Vivekananda's Hindutva is good and not that of Vinayak Savarkar. What is the basis for such claims?" he said. Joshi said that the Communist rulers in West Bengal claim that they are against Hindus, but when it comes to heading Durga Puja mandals, they are always in the forefront. "Similar is the situation in Kerala, where Communists want to be president of temple committee," he added. Joshi advised that Hindus should rise above politics. Responding to a question, Joshi said that the people from all communities are welcome to join the Sangh. He said that those who believe in the ideology of the Sangh can join and they would be given "respectable position but not a separate position". "Sangh has given position to everyone. Whoever wants to come to Sangh they are welcome. We never stopped non-Hindus from joining Sangh. It is true that we have focused on Hindus. But if someone from Christian community or a Muslim agrees with Sangh's ideology, they can also join it," Joshi added. "After joining the Sangh, if they are reluctant to say 'Bharat mata ki jai', then we will say that you don't consider 'Bharat' as your mother, so you don't deserve to be here," he said. In states like Uttar Pradesh, many Muslims have joined the RSS, he said, adding, "If any non-Hindu joins the Sangh, they will get a position as much as any Hindu gets. They won't get a separate position. Whoever joins will get a respectable position, but not a separate position," he said. Responding to another question, Joshi said that government servants are not barred from joining the RSS, although they are barred from becoming part of political movements.