RSS chief also says that other countries have misinterpreted Bharat’s version of nationalism

NEW DELHI: Amid deepening religious polarisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that Bharat has been a “secular nation” since 5000 years.

Speaking at a book launch event in Delhi on Wednesday, Bhagwat said that people should present India as a country which does not have unity in diversity, but it has diversity of unity.

“We have so much of Diversity in us, we shouldn’t fight with each other, we should show oneness which comes in Unity – that is Bharat’s existence – Foundation. Oneness is of being Bhartiya – We should teach the world the same. Nationalism is an ideal for us. But to the international community, nationalism is something else. They feel scared of this word. They associate Hitler with the word nationalism. But Bharat and Bharat’s ideal, the people, are so different,” he said.

FLASH: Rss Chief Mohan Bhagwat, at a book launch event, takes a swipe at those who quote Constitution to teach secularism, recalling how even former President and Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukherjee mentioned India’s secularism is 5000-year-old.

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Bhagwat’s statement came amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. He also hailed the G20 and its theme on Humanity, saying, “Theme of G20 Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the whole world is one family was not mere theme… It is a fact, not a theory. We turned a platform like G20 into one with a humane touch because that is how our culture has been since ages — that world is one big family.”

Explaining what brings people together in different countries, he said, “The reason for unity in the USA is always about their financial stability. That is why their policies always revolve around financial issues. For the Arab world, it has been about religion. But for us, it is our humanity or human approach.”

FLASH: #RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat praised the idea of ‘Vasudeva Kutambakkam’ that was projected during the #G20Summit, as he attended a book unveiling in #Delhi at Windsor Place

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Recalling a conversation with late former President Pranab Mukherjee on Indian secularism, he said: “I met Pranab da several times. Once I wanted to meet and he was unwell then and all his appointments were cancelled. When I called to check and ask for 10 minutes; to my surprise, I found out that the appointment with me was not cancelled.”

“This was during ghar wapsi ruckus in parliament and I went all prepared to present my side but the meeting went for over one hour and to my surprise he himself said, ‘Bharat’s constitution is secular. We are secular not just because of our Constitution but also because the tall leaders who drafted the Constitution were secular’. We have not been secular since then. Our 5000-year-old culture is like this’,” Bhagwat recalled, having been told by the former president.

Sharing the stage with him, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan stressed, “After the knowledge of oneness, the difference between God and soul disappears.”

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