‘A Hindu wanting Muslims to be ousted from India is not a Hindu’: Mohan Bhagwat in New York

Hindu leader Mohan Bhagwat, speaking at a faith leaders conference in New York, asserted that a Hindu who believes Muslims should be expelled from India is not truly Hindu. Addressing a gathering of speakers from Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam, Bhagwat argued that the Hindu understanding of humanity's oneness precludes such exclusionist views.

He stated that socio-religious organizations can influence policy and politics, but this must begin at the societal level, as "politics has now become a game of self-interest." Bhagwat emphasized that the essence of being Hindu lies in recognizing that all paths lead to the same God and that every human being possesses inherent dignity, regardless of faith.

He also highlighted that India historically served as a sanctuary for individuals from various religious backgrounds who faced persecution elsewhere. However, Bhagwat acknowledged that lingering historical baggage has contributed to communal tensions, but he insisted that the RSS remains committed to conveying the message that diversity is merely a reflection of the underlying unity of humanity.