All citizens of India are Hindus; we don't discriminate, says RSS

Lucknow: On the eve of its three-day conclave, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) today termed all the citizens of the country as Hindus.

“In the eyes of RSS all those living in India are Hindus. RSS does not discriminate on the basis of caste and religion,” All India Publicity In-Charge of RSS, Manmohan Vaidya told reporters here.

He was speaking on the eve of a three-day meeting of RSS’ Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal.

Vaidya claimed that a number of people getting associated with RSS was increasing by each day.

The RSS leader said that while 1,000 applications were received in 2012, it has grown to an average 7,000 application per month.

On being asked about the number of applicants from minority community, he said, “there is no minority in our eyes. RSS does not discriminate on the basis of caste and religion. In our eyes all those living in India are Hindus.”

To a direct question about association of Muslims with the RSS, Vidya said,“Muslims are also coming to siksha vargas of the organisation.”

“All are equal in sangh and no account is kept on the basis of caste and religion.”

Earlier, he said that while 80,000 people participated last year in the seven-day siksha vargas for initial training about the working of RSS, this year the figure has reached 1.2 lakh.

Giving details about the three-day meet the ‘prachar pramukh’ said that 390 workers, including sangh chalaks, sah sangh chalaks, prant pracharak of 41 prants and chiefs of 33 organisations connected with the sangh will participate.

He said that during three-day meeting workers will exchange information about work done in their areas and future programmes of the RSS will be chalked out.

Vaidya said that current social issues could be discussed, but no programme in this regard has been chalked out yet.