The president of the All India Imam Association, Maulana Sajid Rashidi, issued a sharp critique on Monday directed at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his recent comments describing India as a Hindu Rashtra. Rashidi asserted that this concept fundamentally contradicts the nation's Constitution and its democratic fabric.
Constitutional Crisis and Democratic Character at Stake
Responding to Bhagwat's statement that India is a Hindu nation and that this is reflected in the Constitution's preamble, Rashidi argued that a Hindu Rashtra can only remain a slogan. He warned that its realization would mean the end of the Indian Constitution. "Those who are singing the praises of the Hindu nation want to crush the constitution," he said.
Rashidi emphasized that India belongs to all its 140 crore residents, not just one religious community. He drew a parallel with Islamic nations, stating, "We see that all the Islamic countries, where the principles of the Quran are followed, are not democratic countries." He implied that declaring India a religious state would similarly erode its democratic foundations.
Questioning the Narrative of Majority Insecurity
The Imam leader also challenged Bhagwat's view that the culture of the majority should be respected and not opposed. He termed the assertion that the 80 per cent Hindu majority in India is under threat as "laughable."
To illustrate his point, Rashidi cited examples of Hindu minorities in Gulf nations. "In Dubai there are 8 per cent Hindu, 5 per cent Hindu in Oman, 15 per cent in Saudi Arabia they are all safe. Here you’ve 80 per cent Hindus; majority and they are not safe?" he questioned. He further noted that from the Prime Minister to peons, and including judges, IAS, and IPS officers, many key positions are held by Hindus, making the claim of their endangerment seem baseless.
He accused the RSS of fanning insecurity among the majority community for political gains. "Telling Hindus that they are in danger is just the politics of the vote bank, it has nothing to do with the constitution," Rashidi alleged.
Contradictions and a Warning of Manusmriti
Rashidi pointed out contradictions in Bhagwat's remarks, referencing the RSS chief's earlier acknowledgment of the historical and continuing presence of Muslims in India. "On one hand he says there is no India without Muslims. Muslims were always there, are and will always be, then he says everybody living here is a Hindu, they don’t consider them Muslims ...," he stated, urging the chief of a large organization like the RSS to speak after thorough thinking.
The Imam president issued a stark warning about the potential consequences if India were officially declared a Hindu Rashtra. He claimed, "The day this country becomes a Hindu rashtra, that day the constitution will be over, then Manusmriti will be implemented and then whatever is told in it will happen with Dalits and other religions ..."
This criticism follows Mohan Bhagwat's address on Sunday at the Kolkata Vyakhyanmala, an event celebrating the RSS centenary. In his speech, Bhagwat had stated that viewing the RSS through the lens of the BJP is a mistake. He defended the Sangh's mission of organizing Hindu society while clarifying it is not aimed at opposing others. He invited critics to change their opinion if they do not find the RSS to be anti-Muslim.
