by Sanjay Saxena Our country is like a colourful bouquet, with its strength lying in unity in diversity. Here, we see different religions and their distinct modes of worship, and the social and caste fabric of the country is also quite divided. In such a scenario, one must think a hundred times before reacting to any issue. Otherwise, it doesn’t take long for the atmosphere to get disturbed or for public sentiments to be inflamed. A recent example of this is the statement made by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. It is also true that Bhagwat’s statements did not cause an uproar for the first time. Previously, statements from Bhagwat on reservations, Brahmins, and DNA have also sparked controversies. Now, objections have been raised from Hindu saints regarding Bhagwat’s comments on temples and mosques. The All India Sant Samiti, a prominent Hindu saints’ body, has expressed objection to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remark about seeking temples everywhere and trying to become a leader of Hindus using this issue. The Samiti stated that leaders raising the temple-mosque issue should stay within their limits. The general secretary of the Samiti, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, said that the temple-mosque issue is religious in nature and should be decided by religious leaders. He clearly stated that Bhagwat should leave this issue to the religious leaders.
Swami Jitendranand Saraswati emphasized that religious authorities should decide when a religious issue arises. When they decide, the RSS and the VHP will also accept it. He added that despite Bhagwat’s past comments, 56 new temples have been found at various places, indicating interest and actions on the temple-mosque issue. Swami Jitendranand pointed out that religious organizations act according to the sentiments of the people they represent, not merely political motivations. This comment came a day after Jagadguru Rambhadracharya expressed his disagreement with Bhagwat. Rambhadracharya had said that he wanted to clarify that Mohan Bhagwat is not our disciplinarian; we are the ones who are.
Not only are the saints upset with Bhagwat’s statement, but it is also the first time that he is facing opposition from within his own ‘family.’ Previously, the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Sharada Peeth and Badrinath Jyotirmath, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, had taken a stance against the RSS family. Still, their statements were dismissed by labelling them as influenced by the Congress ideology.
Now, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, along with other Hindu religious leaders, is unwilling to align with the RSS. They believe that the RSS should respect the leadership of religious figures when it comes to matters of faith. Political experts suggest that this situation reflects potential conflicts within the Hindu religious community about the role and influence of the RSS in religious matters. Rambhadracharya said that what was happening in Sambhal was truly wrong, but the positive aspect was that things were now turning in favour of Hindus. He added that they would secure it through courts, ballots, and public support. He also expressed concern about the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.
It is worth noting that recently, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over the resurgence of temple-mosque disputes. He advised people not to raise such issues. Bhagwat stated that no one could become a leader of Hindus by raising temple-mosque disputes and spreading communal divisions. His statement came after Hindu right-wing groups raised demands regarding old mosques in various courts across the country, claiming that these mosques were built on temple sites. These mosques include the Atala Masjid in Jaunpur and the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, where violence recently erupted. Five people were killed in the violence that broke out on November 24.
Meanwhile, the political storm over Bhagwat’s statement shows no sign of subsiding. The Congress has accused Bhagwat of attempting to mislead people with his statement about not raising the temple-mosque issue. They argue that it reflects the dangerous workings of the RSS, whose leaders say one thing and do the opposite, supporting those who raise such issues. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, through a social media post, criticized Bhagwat, saying that if he is honest, he should publicly declare that in the future, the RSS will never support leaders who jeopardize social harmony. Jairam further stated that Bhagwat would not say this because the temple-mosque issue is being stirred up at the behest of the RSS. Many of those who incite such divisive issues and cause riots have connections to the RSS.
