Any attempt to define India through religion, intolerance will dilute its existence: Pranab

Former president Pranab Mukherjee with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and other leaders at an RSS event. Photo: PTI

NAGPUR: Speaking at an RSS event at Sangh's headquarters in Nagpur, former President and Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday warned that any attempt to define India through "religion, dogma or intolerance" will only dilute the country's existence. Mukherjee said intolerance will only dilute India' national identity and Indian nationalism emanated from universalism, assimilation and co-existence. "In India, we derive our strength from tolerance, and respect our pluralism. We celebrate our diversity," he said. "I am here to share my understanding on nation, nationalism and patriotism about our country which is 'Bharat'," said Mukherjee, who served as President of India between 2012 and 2017. "We must free our public discourse from all kinds of fear and violence" he said. Ahead of his speech at RSS headquarters here, Mukherjee visited the birth place of late KB Hedgewar, founder of the  right-wing outfit. Mukherjee was welcomed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat with a bouquet of flowers. Both were seen having a conversation at the first floor of the residence. This was his first speech from the RSS platform. Many Congress leaders wrote to him requesting to not 'violate'  party line. ALSO READ: Pranab visits Hedgewar birthplace: 5 things to know about RSS founder Who Said What At RSS Event:

• It was this very nationalism that Pandit Nehru so vividly expressed in the book 'Discovery of India', he wrote, "I am convinced that nationalism can only come out of the ideological fusion of Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs and other groups in India.": Pranab Mukherjee
• Indian nationalism emanated from universalism, assimilation and co-existence. Intolerance will only dilute our national identity: Pranab Mukherjee
• Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our identity: Pranab Mukherjee
• In India, we derive our strength from tolerance, and respect our pluralism; We celebrate our diversity: Pranab Mukherjee
• Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our identity: Pranab Mukherjee
• Our national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant: Pranab Mukherjee
• I am here amongst you to share my understanding with you of the concepts of nation, nationalism and patriotism in the context of India: Pranab Mukherjee
• Debate over RSS invitation to former President Pranab Mukherjee is meaningless. RSS wants to unify the entire society, no one is outsider for us: Mohan Bhagwat

It has been our tradition to invite eminent people at our functions. Pranab will be Pranab even after this event: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwathttps://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

No one is 'paraya' for the Sangh, RSS is not limited only to #Hindus: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.#RSSTritiyaVarsh Watch: https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/iOPdL4nOI5

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

RSS sided with the British and was never part of the freedom struggle: @INCIndia ahead of Pranab's address at #RSSTritiyaVarsh https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

• Dialogue can only be with those who are willing to listen, absorb and change. There is nothing to suggest that RSS has moved away from his core agenda as it seeks legitimacy.
• Images of Pranab Mukherjee at RSS HQ have anguished millions of Congress workers and those who believe in pluralism, diversity: Anand Sharma, Congress.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee at #RSSTritiyaVarsh event, in Nagpur. Watch Live Coverage: https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/8k5UXR80i0

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

• Mukherjee described Keshav Baliram Hedgewar as a "great son of Mother India' as he visited the birthplace of the RSS founding Sarsanghachalak. "Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India," Mukherjee wrote in a visitor's book at Hedgewar's birthplace ahead of his much-anticipated speech at the RSS headquarters.

 

'Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India': Former President @CitiznMukherjee's message in the visitor's book at RSS founder KB Hedgewar's birthplace in Nagpur#RSSTritiyaVarsh pic.twitter.com/kRMX6Epmw0

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

Accepting an invitation from the Hindutva group has sparked controversy with some of his former Congress colleagues and Left leaders expressing their reservations over his participation in the RSS meeting. Many Congress leaders wrote to him requesting to not 'violate'  party line.

Nagpur: Former President Pranab Mukherjee with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. LIVE Coverage: https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/Tf0LhCp8QM

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

Nagpur: Former President Pranab Mukherjee at residence of KB Hedgewar, founder of RSS. LIVE Coverage: https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/JPMPwhcGK5

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) June 7, 2018

Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee had yesterday said her father was giving the BJP and the Sangh a handle to plant false stories.   Sharmistha Mukherjee's outburst came soon after rumours about her joining the BJP cropped up. She dismissed as "false" rumours of her joining the BJP and alleged they were the handiwork of BJP's "dirty tricks department". (With agency inputs)