RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meets chief imam, decided to work for communal harmony

Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, met with Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the top imam of the All India Imam Organization, on Thursday. The meeting is a component of the RSS’s ongoing efforts to reach out to leaders of different communities and religions.

An RSS functionary claims that the meeting in the mosque in the nation’s capital was part of the Sangh’s efforts to engage with individuals from other societal groups.

The Sangh chief stressed the need for harmony across all cultures and faiths during a meeting with Muslim community representatives, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Five prominent Muslims, including SY Quraishi, a former election commissioner, and Najeeb Jung, a former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, met with Bhagwat to discuss developing a plan to promote peace and communal harmony.

The two sides have agreed to identify points of contention that demand attention before a meeting with representatives of other faiths.

According to a person privy to the meeting that took place three weeks ago, while the five representatives’ side protested against references to Muslims as terrorists and Pakistanis, RSS officials emphasised how offensive it is to refer to Hindus as Kafirs or unbelievers.

One of the attendees at the meeting said a plan was being made to put an end to conflict and settle concerns that have been brewing for years.

He claimed that this was being done to guarantee that internal security and communal peace were not jeopardised.

RSS Sarsanghachalak meets people from all walks of life. It’s part of the continuous general “Samvad” process,” said Sunil Ambekar, Sangh’s Prachar Pramukh.