By Anjali Sharma
NEW YORK – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supreme chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said in a New York gathering at Madison Square Garden that there is no difference between human beings and if a Hindu thinks Muslims should not live in India, he is not a Hindu.
He was speaking at the “One World One Humanity” event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Bhagwat asserted that while there are many religions, humanity is the one ultimate truth.
Bhagwat said, “If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings,” at the “One World One Humanity” event at Madison Square Garden in New York,
Bhagwat, whose right-wing organisation is often accused of being anti-Muslim by critics, asserted that while there are many religions, humanity is the one ultimate truth.
“I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one,” he said.
He defined religions as a set of rituals that according to him, is necessary to follow to fit in a religious discipline.
“There are many religions, and in today’s world, religions are largely defined by rituals. And to fit in a religious discipline, and to treat that path to divinity, this discipline of rituals is also necessary,” he said.
Bhagwat further stated that his organisation, the RSS, believes that all humanity is one despite apparent diversities.
“As the RSS we believe that all humanity is one. It is our duty to go out into the world and share the message that despite our apparent diversities, we are one,” he remarked.
Bhagwat added that diversity “is a decoration of our inner unity” and that it must be “accepted, respected, and preserved.”
“Just as I protect my identity, I have to protect that of others. Diversity is the rule of nature, but unity is the truth underpinning it. Since our inception in 1925, over the past century, the Sangh has established a position of trust and prestige within our society.
