Thackeray camp praises RSS chief's outreach to Muslims, slams ‘Neo-Hindutva’ politics


Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 26: In a rare move, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday extended praise to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his recent engagement with over 70 Muslim clerics and intellectuals, calling the interaction a "much-needed effort" amid increasing communal tension allegedly stoked by self-proclaimed guardians of Hindutva.

In a sharply worded editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray faction said Bhagwat’s initiative stands out at a time when certain elements are trying to ignite "political fires" by distorting the true essence of Hindutva. "The DNA of Hindus and Muslims in Hindustan is the same," the editorial noted, adding, "We are all in the same boat. If it sinks, everyone will drown."

The party commended Bhagwat’s openness and empathy towards the concerns of Muslim intellectuals, especially in an atmosphere charged by groups within the BJP who, according to the editorial, are "targeting Muslims for political gains."

The piece questioned whether Bhagwat’s conciliatory tone would sit well with BJP’s so-called ‘neo-Hindutva’ activists, particularly those in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, and Delhi, who have recently stirred communal sentiments. In a direct jab at Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane, the editorial remarked that Bhagwat’s actions might leave Rane “shocked,” given his recent inflammatory rhetoric against Muslims.

The editorial cited past slogans like ‘Batenge to Katenge’ and ‘Ek Hain to Safe Hain’ as examples of divisive campaigns, and reminded readers that while such rhetoric flourished, more than 700 farmers had died and several youth, including Santosh Deshmukh and Mahadev Munde, had lost their lives in Maharashtra over the past few months.

Touching on national security, the editorial criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to nab those behind the Pahalgam attack, alleged to have been carried out by Pakistani operatives. It also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being in a “state of Samadhi,” remaining silent on key national issues.

The editorial also condemned attempts by the BJP to allegedly dismantle the Waqf Board and sell its properties, calling it yet another mask behind the party’s "conspiracies." In a sarcastic note, it referenced Eknath Shinde’s rebellion in June 2022, alleging that his faction “sacrificed buffaloes at a temple in Guwahati,” a move framed as hypocritical by the Thackeray camp.

Highlighting unresolved social ills like casteism and superstition, the editorial recalled the assassinations of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, and Prof. Kalburgi, blaming ritualistic extremism. It called for rooting out religious fanaticism across communities in the interest of national unity.

The piece also took a swipe at the growing personality cult around Modi, likening it to dangerous ritualism. “People have started seeing Modi as an incarnation of Vishnu. And these incarnations lie every day — to thunderous applause,” it said, branding such trends as “anti-national.”

The editorial further denounced alleged efforts to strip voting rights of minorities, claiming Muslim, Christian, and Dalit names were being selectively removed from voter rolls, first in Maharashtra and now in Bihar.

Paying tribute to Muslim contributions to India’s freedom struggle and armed forces, the Thackeray camp said today's BJP leaders should learn the names of Hamid Dalwai, Yusuf Meher Ali, and Shahir Amar Sheikh, who played pivotal roles in nation-building, long before the BJP came into existence.

In a concluding appeal, the editorial underscored the need for unity between Hindus and Muslims and warned that sowing hatred for political gain not only endangers communities but also weakens the nation itself.

 

  

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Title: Thackeray camp praises RSS chief's outreach to Muslims, slams ‘Neo-Hindutva’ politics



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