RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday called for a “path through mutual agreement” on the controversy over the filming of Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, saying there is no need to escalate such issues.
Mohan Bhagwat said there was no need to find a ‘Shivling’ in every mosque and start a new dispute every day.
“We had special devotion towards some places and we spoke about them but we shouldn’t bring out a new matter daily. Why should we escalate the dispute? We have devotion towards Gyanvapi and doing something as per that, it’s alright. But why look for a Shivling in every masjid?” said the chief of the RSS, short for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP’s ideological mentor.
The RSS chief’s statement defuses weeks of comments by rightwing groups and leaders that indicated the matter could turn into street mobilisation, making some to draw parallels with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in UP’s Ayodhya in 1992.
“Gyanvapi matter is ongoing. We can’t change history. Neither today’s Hindus nor today’s Muslims created it. It happened at that time. Islam came from outside via attackers. In the attacks, Devsthans were demolished to exhaust the morale of those who wanted India’s independence,” Mr Bhagwat said at an event in Nagpur.
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But the Sangh did not want to say anything on this issue, Bhagwat said, adding, “We had said what we had to say on November 9 that there was Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. We joined in it, though it was against our nature, due to some historical reasons, and due to the situation at that time. We completed that work and now we do not want to pursue any more agitations.”
Everyone involved in the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute should sit together and find a way with mutual consent, the RSS chief added.
READ ALSO: What is Gyanvapi Mosque And The Controversy Behind It? Read Here.
But as this does not happen every time and people approach courts, the “decision of the court should be accepted by all considering the justice system as sacred and supreme,” Bhagwat said.
Muslims Not Outsiders.
Muslims are not outsiders even though their way of worship came from outside, Bhagwat said.
“Our tradition is the same and some nationalist Muslims have fought with Hindus in many freedom struggles, and they are ideals for the Muslims of our country,” Bhagwat added.
Mr Bhagwat said the RSS is not opposed to any form of worship and considers all of them holy.
“We have no opposition against any form of worship; we accept them all and consider all of them holy. They may have adopted that form of worship, but they are descendants of our rishis, munis, Kshatriyas. We are descendants of the same ancestors,” he said.
Amid the Gyanvapi row, a petition seeking an inquiry into the “history” of Taj Mahal was rejected by the Allahabad High Court last month.
Days later, a Delhi court hearing a plea seeking restoration of Hindu and Jain deities inside the Qutub Minar complex had reserved its order for June 9.