New Delhi: Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday stoked controversy by reiterating the party’s contentious stand that all Indians are Hindus.
“There is no minority in India where all the people are culturally, nationally and DNA-wise Hindus,” Hosabale said.
RSS’ oft-repeated stand that all minorities in India converted to their respective religions from Hinduism has not gone down well with the secular credentials of India, especially BJP, which has been making a conscious effort over the decades to shed its pro-Hindu image and become acceptable to all sections of society.
“Whom do you call minorities? We don’t consider anybody to be a minority. There should be no minority concept in the country because there is no minority,” Hosabale said in response to a question on whether RSS would induct religious minorities into its ranks.
Some organisations owing allegiance to the RSS had started a controversial conversion camps to convert poor Muslims and Christians into Hinduism, terming it as homecoming of the minorities. The camps were abandoned after Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested the RSS to reign in such elements as it was giving a bad reputation to his government and may adversely impact his efforts to get foreign investment into India.