Chandigarh, India - RSS chief K S Sudarshan on Thursday said the Sangh's doors were open for Muslims, but only if they can call themselves 'Hindu', a word to which he sought to give a different connotation by saying it relates more to the citizenship of the country than religion.
Addressing a colloquium on philosphy and objective of the RSS, organised by former Punjab Director General of Police P C Dogra's 'Forum on Integrated National Security', Sudarshan dwelt in length how India had emerged after the Mughal rule and later the Britishers, who had ‘pre-planned’ the division the country in the event they had to leave India.
Replying to the questions put to him by the gathering, he said the time had come when there was a need to propogate the 'Hindutva' ideology more vigorously.
"As 99.9 per cent Muslims living in India have their roots in this country, why should they like to call themselves as minority? India is the only country where 73 different sects of Muslims are peacefully co-existing. As other nations, including Islamic ones have only a few sects of Muslims, we urge them to send out a message to the world how the community is living in peace in India," he said.
The RSS chief said Muslims joining the Sangh should not have any problem in expressing their belief in Lord Rama and Krishna and also being addressed as a 'Hindu', which he claimed reflects one's citizenship of the country more than any particular religion.
Later, in response to another question from the audience, Sudarshan said if Hindus only followed the birth control measures, they will be in minority by 2060. "We (Hindus) will also increase our population. Minimum should be three children and even more will be better," he said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also came under attack from the Sangh leader, who alleged that he was only interested in ‘appeasing Muslim community’ in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
"To garner Muslim votes in UP, the Prime Minister has recently said Muslims should have the first right on resources," he alleged.
To a question, he attributed the controversy over RSS claiming Sikhs as part of the Hindu fold to political leaders or parties. "Politics many times means picking up fights while on the other hand your heritage and culture bind you in one fold," he said.
He said the Sikhs and Hindus were part of the same heritage and tradition.
"I also consider myself a Sikh. Only five symbols do not make a Sikh," Sudarshan said.
Sudarshan condemned the incidents of atrocities against Dalits and said the RSS had been working to end discrimination while emphasising the need for people to clear their ‘mental blocks’ towards members of other castes.