Amid the noise of ‘ghar wapsi’, Sushma Swaraj toes a liberal approach

They have the power to dull the sharp edges of ethnic nationalism and religious chauvinism which fuel most of the conflict of the world today,” Swaraj said at the concluding session of the three-day India Ideas Conclave organised by India Foundation, a Delhi-based think tank.

Swaraj also spoke about how, in spite of India being invaded so many times, its indigenous culture was enriched as invaders were assimilated into the cultural fabric of Indian society.

“The genius of India lies in its ability to absorb and encompass many cultures with whom it has come in contact. At the same time it has allowed these cultures to flourish as distinct entities based on the principle of unity in diversity,” she said.

Swaraj said openness to other cultures was the only way to tackle society’s current problems. “This openness to other cultures, while being firmly rooted to our own, is the only antidote to the doctrine of the clash of civilisations,” she said.

Swaraj’s statements come at a time when the Sangh and its affiliates have been repeatedly stressing India’s identity as a “Hindu Rashtra”, launching verbal attacks on religious minorities, and carrying out an aggressive programme of “re-conversion” to Hinduism.

Unlike Bhagwat, who blamed Pakistan and Bangladesh for the problems of India, Swaraj said that the threat of terror was not limited to a single ideology. “The threat of terror and violent extremism is neither constrained by international borders nor limited to a single ideology,” the minister said.