New Delhi, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks on Hindu-Muslim unity in New York have triggered political reactions in India, with BJP leaders defending his message of inclusivity while Opposition parties questioned whether his position reflected the principles of equality and religious plurality.
Speaking at the “One World, One Humanity” faith leaders’ conference in New York on Saturday, Bhagwat said a Hindu who believes Muslims should have no place in India ceases to be a Hindu. He maintained that Hindutva recognises the dignity of every individual and accepts different paths to the same truth.
Bhagwat recalled a question raised by Muslim participants during his 2018 lecture series in Delhi. According to him, some had asked whether Muslims would be driven out of India because the RSS advocates the idea of a “Hindu Rashtra”.
He said he had told them that such an approach was inconsistent with Hindutva and that anyone believing there should be no Muslims in Bharat could not claim to be a Hindu.
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Defending the RSS chief’s remarks, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh said Hinduism was inherently inclusive and could not be restricted to a particular sect, religion or form of worship.
“Hindu is inclusive. ‘Hindu’ is not the name of a sect, nor the name of a religion, nor can ‘Hindu’ be tied to a specific mode of worship. Being Hindu is a way of life,” Singh said.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain also backed Bhagwat, saying the RSS chief’s message was consistent with his earlier statements. Hussain said Indian citizens belonged to the country regardless of their mode of worship and invoked the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
Opposition leaders, however, responded with varying degrees of caution and criticism.
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy described the remarks as positive, saying India needs unity and diversity, but questioned whether Bhagwat genuinely believed what he had said.
“It’s a good thing. We all want unity and diversity in India. But I don’t know whether Mohan Bhagwat has said something that he truly believes or not…” Roy told IANS.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the Constitution guarantees equality to citizens irrespective of gender, religion, caste or language.
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan referred to Article 25, which guarantees the freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion, and accused the RSS and BJP of disregarding constitutional protections.
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