RSS Chief: Muslims Have Nothing To Fear In India But Must Abandon Their 'Supremacy' Narrative, Sangh Backs LGBTQ Rights

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that the new-found aggression among Hindus in India and elsewhere is due to the fact that Hindu society has been at war for over 1,000 years and has finally awakened with the Sangh's support.

In an interview with RSS-affiliated magazines Organizer and Panchjanya, Bhagwat said, "Hindu society has been at war for over 1,000 years - this fight has been going on against foreign aggressions, foreign influences and foreign conspiracies. Sangh has offered its support to this cause, so have others. There are many who have spoken about it. And it is because of all these that the Hindu society has awakened."

"It is but natural for those at war to be aggressive,” Bhagwat said.

He added that the Hindu society is currently in the midst of yet another war, but this time the enemy is not from outside, but from within.

Bhagwat said that this war is to defend Hindu society, Hindu dharma, and Hindu culture.

He further explained that foreign invaders are no longer present, but foreign influences and conspiracies have continued, and as such, people are likely to get overzealous and may utter provocative statements.

The RSS chief said that the Muslims have nothing to fear in India, but they must abandon their claim of supremacy.

He said "The simple truth is this – Hindusthan should remain Hindusthan. There is no harm to Muslims living today in Bharat. If they wish to stick to their faith, they can. If they want to return to the faith of their ancestors, they may. It is entirely their choice. There is no such stubbornness among Hindus. Islam has nothing to fear. But at the same time, Muslims must abandon their boisterous rhetoric of supremacy."

"We are of an exalted race; we once ruled over this land, and shall rule it again; only our path is right, rest everyone is wrong; we are different, therefore we’ll continue to be so; we cannot live to live together—they must abandon this narrative," Bhagwat added.

"In fact, all those who live here - whether a Hindu or a communist - must give up this logic,” he said.

Bhagwat also touched on the topic of LGBTQ rights and reiterated the Sangh's support for it.

He said "These people (LGBTQ) also have a right to live. Without much hullabaloo, we have found a way, with a humane approach, to provide them social acceptance, bearing in mind they are also human beings having inalienable right to live."

"It’s not that these people have never existed in our country. People with such proclivities have always been there for as long as humans have existed. Since I am a doctor of animals, I know that such traits are found in animals too. This is biological, a mode of life,” he said, reports Indian Express.

He went on to add that India has always had a transgender community and that they were not seen as a problem, and that they were part of their everyday life.

In the same interview, Bhagwat also spoke about RSS' engagement with political issues, despite being a cultural organisation. He explained that the Sangh has consciously kept itself away from day-to-day politics, but always engages with politics that affect "our national policies, national interest, and Hindu interest".