RSS chief on why no Israel-like war happens in India

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat drew a comparison with Hinduism in India while commenting on the ongoing war between Israel and militant group Hamas. Hinduism respects all sects and India has never seen a conflict like the one in Israel, he said.

Bhagwat on Saturday was speaking at a school programme in Maharashtra’s Nagpur, which was organised to mark the 350 years of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation.

“In this country, there is a religion, culture that respects all sects and faiths. That religion is Hinduism,” Bhagwat said, adding that India is a country of Hindus and “that does not mean we reject all other (religions).”

The RSS chief went on to say, “Once you say Hindu, it is not needed to be told that Muslims too were protected. Only Hindus do this. Only India does this. Others have not done this.”

Referring to the strifes in other parts of the world like that of Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, Bhagwat said that India has never seen wars on such issues. “The invasion during Shivaji Maharaj’s time was of that kind. But we never fought battles on this issue with anybody. That is why we are Hindus,” he said to the audience at the programme.

The Israel-Hamas war triggered a ‘political war’ in India, with the BJP citing how the “country is safe” under the Narendra Modi government compared to the UPA days when terror attacks and bomb blasts were common. The Congress, in turn, listed out over 30 “terror attacks” since 2014.

Hours after the Modi government extended its support and solidarity for Israel post the attack and infiltration by Hamas ‘terrorist’ groups from the Gaza strip, Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of CPM, talked of ‘Israeli aggression’ of the ‘most Right-wing government’. Congress came up with a careful statement, condemning the violence against Israel but supporting the Palestinian cause.

The Congress extended support for Palestinians, a day after it “condemned” the “brutal attacks on the people of Israel” by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop,” an X (formerly Twitter) post by Congress said.

With inputs from News18