Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Fadnavis Backs Bhagwat's Hindu-Muslim Unity Remarks, Citing Hindutva's Tolerance
Mohan Bhagwat spoke about Hinduism and Muslims during an address in New York.
He said a Hindu should not believe that Muslims should be absent from India.
He also said all paths lead to the same goal and every person has dignity.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed with him.
Fadnavis said tolerance is an important part of Hindutva.
He said Hindus have welcomed and absorbed different groups over time.
He also said people may respond if attacked, but should not start an attack.
Opposition leaders said Bhagwat should repeat these ideas when he returns to India.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis endorsed Mohan Bhagwat’s comments about Hindu-Muslim unity.
Bhagwat said Hindus cannot reject Muslims and still claim to be Hindu.
Fadnavis described tolerance as the central principle and “soul” of Hindutva.
Fadnavis said Hindus do not initiate attacks but may respond if attacked.
Opposition leaders urged Bhagwat to repeat his remarks in India and questioned why he made them in the United States.
- Who
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and opposition leaders including D Raja and Rashid Alvi.
- What
- Fadnavis backed Bhagwat’s remarks that Hindu identity is incompatible with excluding Muslims and that tolerance is central to Hindutva.
- When
- Bhagwat made the remarks on Saturday; opposition responses cited in the article came on Sunday.
- Where
- Bhagwat spoke in New York, the United States; Fadnavis responded to reporters in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Bhagwat said Hindus should recognize the dignity of every person and that all paths lead to the same goal; Fadnavis endorsed tolerance while also discussing responses to attacks.
Support for the Remarks
Opposition Questions the Remarks
Meaning of Hindutva
Support for the Remarks
Fadnavis said tolerance is fundamental to Hindutva and that Hindus have assimilated people from different backgrounds.
Opposition Questions the Remarks
D Raja and Rashid Alvi challenged Bhagwat to repeat the statement in India, with Alvi questioning why it was made in the United States.
Hindu-Muslim Relations
Support for the Remarks
Bhagwat said Hindus cannot exclude Muslims and still identify as Hindu, adding that all human beings have dignity.
Opposition Questions the Remarks
Rashid Alvi said the need to address Hindu-Muslim relations abroad suggests that a problem exists within India.
Response to Attacks
Support for the Remarks
Fadnavis said a response is justified if someone attacks, while maintaining that Hindus do not initiate attacks.
Opposition Questions the Remarks
The article does not report a direct opposition response to this specific point.
- Main speaker
- Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
- Political supporter
- Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra
- Central principle
- Fadnavis called tolerance the soul of Hindutva.
- Bhagwat’s position
- He said a Hindu who believes there should be no Muslim in Bharat will not remain Hindu.
- Location of remarks
- New York, United States
- Fadnavis’s qualification
- He said a Hindu does not initiate an attack but may respond if attacked.
- Opposition response
- D Raja and Rashid Alvi asked Bhagwat to repeat the remarks in India.