1 week ago
Indian Overseas Congress Questions RSS Chief Bhagwat’s US Outreach
Mohan Bhagwat, the leader of the RSS, is visiting the United States.
The visit is part of the RSS’s worldwide programme marking its centenary year.
The RSS says it wants to explain its views about India and Hindu society.
It also wants to promote the idea that the world is one family.
The Indian Overseas Congress in the United States disagrees with how the RSS presents itself abroad.
It says the organisation’s history and political ideas should also be considered.
IOCUSA said Hinduism should not be confused with Hindutva political ideology.
It raised concerns about minority rights, discrimination, hate speech and violence in India.
The Indian Overseas Congress’ US chapter criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s US tour and overseas messaging.
Bhagwat arrived in the United States for the RSS’s centenary-year global outreach programme.
He is scheduled to address about 5,000 people at Madison Square Garden on August 29.
The RSS says the visit will present its perspective on India, Hindu society and the organisation while promoting “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
IOCUSA said the RSS’s messaging should be considered alongside its ideological record and concerns raised about minority rights, discrimination and violence in India.
- Who
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the Indian Overseas Congress’ US chapter, IOCUSA.
- What
- Bhagwat is undertaking a US visit, while IOCUSA has questioned the RSS’s overseas presentation and raised concerns about its ideological record and minority rights.
- Where
- The United States, including Madison Square Garden in New York.
- When
- Bhagwat arrived in the United States on August 26 and is scheduled to speak on August 29.
- Why
- The RSS says the visit aims to present its perspective on India and Hindu society, promote “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” and expand dialogue; IOCUSA is seeking scrutiny of the organisation’s history, ideology and political consequences.
IOCUSA Concerns
RSS Stated Position
How the RSS should be understood
IOCUSA Concerns
The RSS should not be evaluated only through its overseas public-relations language; its history, ideology and political consequences should also be considered.
RSS Stated Position
The RSS is presenting what it describes as a factual and positive perspective on India, Hindu society and the organisation.
Religious identity and unity
IOCUSA Concerns
IOCUSA said genuine unity cannot be built by demanding conformity and argued that minorities must not have their faith, culture or patriotism questioned.
RSS Stated Position
The RSS says its outreach promotes “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” or the idea that the world is one family, and seeks dialogue on the interests and rights of Hindus and people of Indian origin.
Hinduism and Hindutva
IOCUSA Concerns
IOCUSA said Hinduism should not be confused with Hindutva political ideology and criticized what it called the political weaponisation of religious identity.
RSS Stated Position
The articles state that the RSS is seeking to engage mainstream society through its overseas outreach, but do not provide a direct response from the organisation to IOCUSA’s criticism.
Key facts
- RSS leader
- Mohan Bhagwat
- Visit purpose stated by RSS
- Global outreach during the RSS’s centenary year
- Scheduled event
- Bhagwat is expected to address about 5,000 people at Madison Square Garden
- Scheduled date
- August 29
- RSS themes
- India, Hindu society, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” and dialogue on Hindu and Indian-origin communities’ interests and rights
- IOCUSA concerns
- Religious nationalism, minority rights, discrimination, hate speech and violence
- IOCUSA clarification
- Its criticism targets the political weaponisation of religious identity, not Hinduism or Hindus
Quotes
Indian Overseas Congress’ US chapter (IOCUSA)
The US chapter of the Indian Overseas Congress, which issued the statement criticizing the RSS’s outreach.
“Hinduism, one of the world’s great and ancient religious traditions, must not be confused with Hindutva political ideology. Millions of Hindus in India and throughout the world embrace pluralism, democracy and peaceful coexistence.”
theprint.in
“Our criticism is directed not against Hinduism or Hindus, but against the political weaponisation of religious identity.”
theprint.in
Sources
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