Asaduddin Owaisi criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat after Bhagwat spoke on Hindu-Muslim unity during an event in New York [1].
The exchange highlights the deep ideological divide in India regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's role in shaping national identity and its treatment of minorities.
Bhagwat addressed the Indian-American community on Aug. 29, 2024 [1]. During the event, he said that a Hindu who believes that Muslims should not live in India is not a Hindu [2]. He stressed the importance of equal dignity for all citizens to counter narratives of Hindu supremacy [3].
Owaisi, the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), responded on Aug. 30, 2024 [2]. He accused the RSS of using a playbook to project a moderate image to international audiences while its internal literature tells a different story [3].
"The RSS projects a moderate image abroad while its key thinkers' writings reflect a different view of minorities," Owaisi said [3]. He argued that the organization's historical writings contradict the inclusive rhetoric used during the U.S. visit [3].
A BJP spokesperson defended the RSS chief's remarks, saying Bhagwat has shown the world what Hinduism actually means [4]. The spokesperson said that the address was intended to promote religious harmony [3].
Owaisi's criticism centers on the discrepancy between public diplomacy and the ideological foundations of the RSS. He suggested that the moderate tone adopted in New York is a strategic effort to improve the organization's global standing [3].
“"A Hindu who believes that Muslims should not live in India is not a Hindu."”
This clash illustrates the tension between the RSS's efforts to engage the global Indian diaspora with a message of inclusivity and the domestic political reality where its historical ideologies are viewed as exclusionary by opposition leaders. By challenging Bhagwat's remarks, Owaisi is attempting to frame the RSS's international diplomacy as a facade, ensuring that the organization's domestic record remains the primary lens through which its actions are judged.
