Time for Hindus to show leadership to the world: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Echoing a similar view, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal claimed power was in the hands of “proud Hindus” after 800 years, since Prithviraj Chauhan ruled Delhi. Chauhan, he said, was the last Hindu king before the Muslims and then English ruled the country till its Independence in 1947.

“The world has tried fundamentalists, Communists and conservatives and has now turned to the Hindus to find solutions to the problems… Hindus should rise in unison and show the world leadership based on values,” Bhagwat said at the inaugural session of the World Hindu Congress, a three-day conclave organised by World Hindu Foundation, an NGO and the VHP.

The rise, Bhagwat said, will not be “a reaction to anything or to oppose anybody.” He said, “Do not ask what’s the opportune time. In life turbulence will keep coming… When you start, that is the good time.”

Bhagwat urged: “Let us start our work in all walks of life… leadership based on our values is required. Let us demonstrate that capability. We have to work on values of sameness of humanity.”

However, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province C V Wigneswaran reminded the Hindu leaders that they should focus on “knowledge and philosophy” rather than “rituals.”

The Dalai Lama, who said he would prefer to follow ancient Indian gurus rather than the modern ones as the latter are “westernised. “Its not enough to do pujas without knowing the meaning… Instead of temples in every corner, there should be more cultural and learning centres,” he said.

Talking at World Hindu Economic Forum, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said strong leadership and substantive arguments led to resolution of differences on food security related issues and paved the way for ending the impasse at the WTO soon.