RSS doesn't want a culture that widens the divide: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday sought to project a conciliatory line on contentious cultural issues.

Bhagwat was delivering his annual address on the occasion of Vijayadashmi in Nagpur.

Bhagwat was quoted by ANI as saying, "We don't want a culture that widens the divide, but the one that binds the nation together and promotes love... Therefore, special occasions like birth anniversaries, festivals should be celebrated together."

Bhagwat warned there were forces inimical to India's rise as the country prepares to celebrate 75 years of independence. Bhagwat said, "Our journey from 'Swadheehnta' to 'Swatantrata' is as yet far from complete. There are elements in the world for whom India’s progress and its rise to a respected position are detrimental to their vested interests."

Referring to the struggle for independence, Bhagwat said, "Several freedom fighters belonging to distinct castes, communities and from different regions made noble sacrifices and penances for freedom. The society too, alongside these brave souls, bore the sting of slavery as one unified unit."

Bhagwat claimed India's "societal consciousness" is still skewed with caste-based sentiments. He alleged the "intellectual landscape" of the country was still dominated by "those who are acting contrary to the ones building bridges to promote dialogue and intimacy among people".

Bhagwat argued for the need to highlight the history of Partition stating, "truth of this history should be faced... to bring back the lost integrity and unity, the new generation should know that history."

The RSS had kept the Vijayadashmi event this year as a relatively low-key function on account of COVID restrictions. Among the attendees this year was Kobbi Shoshani, Israel's consul general in Mumbai, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Gadkari and Fadnavis wore the traditional RSS uniform of Khaki pants, white shirt and cap.