Key Facts
Thiruvananthapuram: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday defended top RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale's remarks in favour of keeping a window for dialogue open with Pakistan, saying that he was talking about the people of the neighbouring country, not the state.
Responding to a question about the RSS' view on remarks made by Hosabale in an interview to PTI Videos in May, Bhagwat said the organisation will follow the Union government's policy regarding the state of Pakistan.
Details of Bhagwat's Clarification
During an interactive session held here as part of the centenary celebration of the RSS, Bhagwat said, "But there are a lot of people in Pakistan who believe the partition of Bharat was wrong and many journalists there praise the RSS and its work. There is a distinct undercurrent there of people being anti-Pakistan and against the two-nation theory and they say living together was better."
Bhagwat added that if, in the future, India was to defeat Pakistan beyond repair, the people there will have to be brought into the fold of Bharat or they should be able to live peacefully in that country itself "and for that the doors of dialogue need to be kept open".
He further stated, "We are not like Hitler. That is not our nature or our way. So we need to keep some door open. We should vanquish injustice and tyranny, but we should also preserve what is good."
RSS Position on Foreign Policy
Bhagwat stressed that the RSS has no independent foreign policy regarding any nation and follows the central government's stand. This clarification came amid questions about the Sangh's stance on India-Pakistan relations.
Hosabale's Original Remarks
In the interview with PTI Videos, Hosabale had said, "The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected and the government of the day should take care of it. But at the same time, we need not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue." He was asked how India should deal with Pakistan and its continued sponsorship of terrorism.
What Readers Should Know
- Bhagwat's remarks clarify that the RSS distinguishes between the people of Pakistan and the state.
- The RSS reiterates its alignment with the Union government's foreign policy.
- Bhagwat emphasized a humanitarian approach, rejecting comparisons to Hitler.
FAQ
What did Mohan Bhagwat say about Hosabale's remarks on Pakistan?
Bhagwat clarified that Hosabale's remarks referred to the people of Pakistan, not the country, and that the RSS follows the Union government's policy regarding Pakistan.
Did Bhagwat support dialogue with Pakistan?
Yes, he said doors for dialogue should be kept open, noting that many in Pakistan believe partition was wrong and are anti-two-nation theory.
What was Dattatreya Hosabale's original statement?
Hosabale said India should not close doors for dialogue with Pakistan while protecting its security and self-respect.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com