Dear Mohan Bhagwat, Can You Answer These 5 Questions by Muslims?

The timing of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s speech raises some pressing questions in the mind of Muslims.

Questions for Mohan Bhagwat, by Indian Muslims.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

At the RSS' 3-day conclave, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's words sounded as sweet as honey. He drifted from the set format and attempted to remove barriers. Let's listen to an excerpt from his speech first.

When we talk about a Hindu Rashtra, it doesn’t mean we don’t want Muslims in the country. The day we say we don’t want Muslims there will be no ‘Hindutva’.

Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief

Very well said. If the RSS walks the talk, the entire nation will applaud. But the dedication with which these words were said and the timing of the speech raises some doubts too. There are several questions that arise in the mind of an Indian Muslim. The answers to which must be given from similar platforms. The answers must be given in detail, but it does not happen.

First Question: Loyalty

The very first question is of loyalty which we are asked to prove every day.

If a Muslim appreciates Nusrat Fateh-Ali Khan's music, is a fan of Shahid Afridi, congratulates Imran Khan on Twitter on being elected the new Pakistan prime minister or even wears a green T-shirt, then why does he have to hear, "Look he's showing his true colours. He is a Pakistani?" And why is that? We are humans too. We have our likes and dislikes. I can be fond of the Eiffel Tower. I can be a fan of Mehdi Hassan's ghazals. I can applaud Wasim Akram's out-swingers. Aren't these likes natural? Someone else's reaction is natural and when we do it, we are termed 'Pakistanis'. This loyalty test must stop immediately.

Second Question: Misconceptions about Muslims

In the speeches and writing of leaders associated with the Sangh and its off-shoots Muslims are portrayed as villains or people who bear multiple children. They disturb the balance of the population, have multiple marriages, are terrorists etc. Facts are distorted.

Do you have any solid evidence to certify us as villains? Is there any solid research?When someone presents facts and research they are called liars and pseudo-seculars.

Will these things be brought to an end?

Will affiliates of the Sangh stop distributing certificates of nationalism?

Third Question: Lynchings

I would like to share an anecdote.

As a child, I would visit my maternal grandmother’s house during my holidays and they owned cows and buffaloes. The cows on which Sangh is trying to put a trademark, we would feed fodder to them. And there were not one or two but tens of cattle. The milk of those cows was made available even to the Hindus who lived near by.

But in the name of the cow, people are being lynched. I really liked what you had to say.

Cows should be protected. It’s in the Constitution too. But not just cow, for any matter if someone takes the law into their own hands, incites violence and vandalism then it’s an unnecessary crime. Those who claim to be ‘gau rakshaks’ should first own a cow. If you don’t own a cow and let it stray then obviously such incidents will happen. 

Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief

But how will you put a stop to these lynchings? Will you work to ensure justice for their families?

Fourth Question: Love Jihad

This question is related to love which is higher than the communal walls of separation. Love doesn’t differentiate between Hindu and Muslim. But you gave it the name of ‘Love Jihad’. Since Hindus and Muslims live together in India, they are bound to fall in love and get married. And you (Bhagwat) yourself said that all of us are Indians.

So will you still call the relation between people of two different religions ‘Love Jihad’?

Fifth and Final Question: Will There Be Any Change?

Many Muslims don’t get a home or job because of their cap, beard or names like Ahmed and Khan.

Will you stand by them?

My questions are still the same.

Will there be a change for real or have your words just fallen on deaf ears?