If Muslims Not Welcome, It is Not Hindutva, Says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

New Delhi: Seeking to define how RSS works and allaying apprehensions of minorities in the country, Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said "inclusivity" is an essential part of the right-wing organisation and that if Muslims are not welcome in a Hindu nation, it is not 'Hindutva'. He also emphasised on how the organisation believes in the power of the Constitution.

Speaking on the second day of a three-day conclave that is being organised by the RSS at Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan, Bhagwat said, "A 'Hindu Rashtra' doesn't mean there's no place for Muslims. The day it becomes so, it won't be Hindutva. Hindutva talks about one world family."

Bhagwat also narrated an instance of felicitating Sir Syed Ahmed by Arya Samaj in 1880s at Lahore. He said that when Sir Syed was introduced as the first lawyer from the Muslim community, he took umbrage on being introduced as such.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak also spoke on how the organisation aims at uniting the entire society.

Coming to politics, Bhagwat asserted that the organisation never asks its volunteers to work for any particular party but does advise them to back those working in the national interest.

Bhagwat's comments sought to distinguish between its functioning and the work of the BJP, which is seen to be ideologically affiliated to the organisation with many top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having an RSS background.

He said there is a perception that the RSS plays a key role in the functioning of a particular party, a reference to the BJP, because of the presence of many of its workers in that organisation, but it is wrong.

"We never ask swayamsevak (volunteer) to work for a particular party, we do ask them to back those working in national interest. RSS keeps away from politics but has views on issues of national interest," Bhagwat said.

He said the Sangh believes the centre of power should remain as envisaged in the Constitution and that it considers it wrong if it is not so.

On the first day of the three-day conclave "Bhavishya Ka Bharat -- An RSS Perspective" on Monday, Bhagwat said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) does not seek domination and is indifferent to who comes to power.

Bhagwat launched an unprecedented outreach in a bid to allay apprehensions about its ideology on Monday and had asserted that RSS is "most democratic" and not dictatorial.