Mohan Bhagwat: Ram temple matter of faith, raking up new issues unacceptable

In his address on “Vishwaguru Bharat” at a lecture series in Pune on Thursday, Bhagwat said, “Ram temple is a matter of faith for Hindus. The Hindus believed Ram temple should be constructed. But by doing that one does not become a Hindu leader….”

“Under the burden of the extreme past, it is not acceptable to resort to extreme hatred, malice, enmity, suspicion and rake up such new issues on a daily basis,” Bhagwat said.

He said that while the world believes that all have to be similar to stay united, we believe that “diversity is an ornament of unity, and we should respect and accept it”.

Bhagwat said that despite having advanced facilities and wealth, the world lacks peace. “And that is the reason why the world needs a guru… India can fulfil that need… Vishwaguru is the one who forgets caste and religious differences and walks the path of equality shown by the sants,” he said.

Bhagwat said India is progressing geographically but the country needs to make strides on the moral path. “If that happens, we can achieve the status of a Vishwasguru in the next 20 years,” he said.

Reacting to the remarks on Friday, Opposition parties asked whether what Bhagwat said would be implemented.

While the Samajwadi Party raised the Sambhal violence issue and sought action, the Trinamool Congress called Bhagwat’s remarks “double speak” and Congress said “there should be no difference in what is said and what is done”.

Asked about the remarks, Congress MP Manish Tewari said there should be no difference between “words and deeds”. “The suggestion given by him is a creative one. This advice should be given to those people who believe in the same ideology as him. That they should be patient. They should save and protect the Constitutional framework, the legal system and laws passed by Parliament,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party “welcomed” Bhagwat’s remarks, with party president Akhilesh Yadav saying that the RSS should take “disciplinary action” against his “disciples” who are not following his guidance.

He said Bhagwat should also ensure that “false cases” filed against people in connection with last month’s Sambhal violence are withdrawn and compensation is given to the families of those killed.

“After five people were killed (in the Sambhal violence), false cases were filed against people… He (Bhagwat) is now saying that not every temple should be dug out,” Yadav said.

“So when such an important person has given this statement, it becomes his responsibility and his party leaders’ responsibility to ensure that all those people in Sambhal against whom false cases have been filed are withdrawn,” Yadav said in Parliament complex.

“No one can bring back anyone’s life. But they can at least provide government help to their family members,” he said.

Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said Bhagwat has done the correct thing by giving such a statement but his “disciples” are not accepting it. “He should take disciplinary action against his disciples,” Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP, told PTI.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said, “Every few months Mohan Bhagwat delivers homilies about religious harmony. But on the ground, the Hindutva groups and cadres keep pushing ahead with their violent exclusivist Hindutva agenda. The double speak doesn’t cut ice.”

Asked about Bhagwat’s remarks, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: “The only work they have is to talk about all this. They should talk about the country’s progress, brotherhood, Constitution, democracy. Talk to the farmers sometimes.”