SHRI Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Sarsanghachalak, reaffirmed the Sangh commitment to build a Ram temple on the holy site and said that a temple at the Janmabhoomi site could actually help heal the Hindu- Muslim rift. “It is about the identity of the nation… In an independent India, what is the problem in building a temple for Sri Ram? Why should anybody object to it? There is a lot of mistrust between people on various issues including the Ram temple. I believe that this issue will help in strenghtening national integration. If today the Muslims say that let a Ram Mandir be built at the site which all Indians consider holy, no one will be able to say that in India Muslims are videsh parast (inclined towards outsiders)… There are several temples in India. Why is this temple so important? Because this is Ram Janmabhoomi. There is no other place like this. Ram is not only the national hero, but he is revered as incarnation by the Hindus. Why is this small issue not understood? In our independent country, a Ram Temple must be built there, that’s all,” Shri Bhagwat said.
“The RSS will respond to the Allahabad High Court ruling on Ayodhya within the democratic framework of law and the Constitution. But the aspiration of the Hindu society has to be respected and it is to see a grand temple at Sri Ram Janmabhoomi,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak.
He was speaking at the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) in New Delhi on September 14.
Terming the Ram temple movement a matter of faith, Shri Bhagwat said, the judgement as it is of a High Court will not be final as there’s always the recourse of going to the Supreme Court.
On why the RSS insists on building a temple in Ayodhya Shri Bhagwat said, “We want a temple constructed at the Janmabhoomi because earlier there existed a temple and it was demolished to humiliate the Hindu society. It was an act of invasion. This is only righting a wrong. Reconstruction of the temple is everybody’s responsibility. It is not fair to oppose it since Sri Ram is a symbol of our national identity.”
The RSS Sarsanghachalak disagreed with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s use of the term “saffron terrorism.” He said that while some “small incidents” that may have taken place should be duly investigated and those responsible – even if affiliated to the RSS – should be brought to book, the Home Minister’s use of the term was undesirable. “Hindu dharma aur aatankvad, ye ek na jamne wali jodi hai (Terrorism and Hinduism are a mismatch). “Hinduism is known for its tolerance”, said Shri Bhagwat. This was in contrast to ‘jehadi terrorism,’ a term used globally. He said the Home Minister should have used such terms more responsibly as Pakistan is already considered a “rogue state”. Such statements imply bracketing India with its neighbour. “What message do you want to give to the world? Some call Pakistan a rogue state. Do you want India to be called like that. There should be a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Shri Bhagwat criticised the Centre’s failure on Kashmir. “Is anybody happy about Kashmir? The direction of government policy should be to fully integrate Kashmir at a psychological emotional level with the rest of the country and to win their trust and to weaken separatist sentiments. This is not happening. Hence this situation.” He said, “We do not like words like azadi or autonomy. We don’t understand the need to talk to the separatists.”
(FOC)
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