RSS bats for Hindu unity, endorses 'spirit' of 'batengey toh katengey' remark

Hindu unity is essential for everyone's good and there is a need to be vigilant against forces that seek to divide in the name of religion, caste and ideology, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Saturday virtually endorsing the "batengey toh katengey (divided we fall)" remark by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"If we discriminate/divide on the basis of language, state, upper and backward castes, then we will be decimated (Hum jaati, bhasha, prant agla-pitchda bhed se hum karengey toh hum katengey)," the leader of the BJP's ideological fountainhead told reporters on the second and concluding day of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's national meet here.

He was asked about the 'batengey toh katengey' slogan given by Adityanath and subsequently flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Thane, Maharashtra on October 5.

Hosabale stressed that while the statement itself is not the focus, the spirit behind it is significant.

"The issue is of Hindu unity. In fact, we often say that those who forget the Hindu thought invite disaster, lose their family, land and places of worship. The spirit is the same. The issue is unity in society. (Samaj ekatmata se nahi rahega toh .. itihaas kehta hai.. hum to kehte hain jab jab Hindu bhaav ko bhoole aayi vipada mahaan bhai tootey dharti khoi mitey dharma sansthan .. yeh hamara geet hai ... toh usko aajkal ki bhasha main aisa aapne jo kaha ho sakta hai. Mudda kya hain. Samaj ki ekta," the RSS leader said.

Asserting that unity is essential for any nation, he said mere speeches are insufficient and real efforts are required to foster it.

"We have to inculcate it in our behaviour. The good thing is that many religious and other organisations are now understanding this and supporting it. Hindu unity is the RSS' pledge," he said, adding Sangh reflects the voice of the society.

"Hindu unity is for everyone's good, for global happiness and peace. Hindu unity is important to ensure our protection and for world harmony. That is why we back Hindu unity and there are no two views on this," he said.

The RSS veteran cautioned that there were "forces" working to "divide Hindus" on religious and caste lines.

"Some forces seek to divide in the name of religion and caste, ideology and other ways so we have to be vigilant against them," he said.

On October 5, Prime Minister Modi also flagged the issue of Hindu unity at a rally in Thane, Maharashtra where he said, "Agar hum batenge, toh bantney waley mehfil sajaayenge (if we are divided, then those who seek to do so would celebrate)."

Regarding the dispute of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah in Mathura, he said that this issue is currently pending in the court. "We hope that the court resolves this issue soon," he said and added that there is no need to do anything like Ayodhya in this matter and people should have faith in judiciary.

On questions related to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Hosabale said the issue is not related to any one party or community and a joint committee of parliament is in the process of hearing the views of all religions and classes.

"The fact is that some such amendments were made in the Waqf Act earlier in 2013 which made it an independent entity in India. Even the district magistrate or any other competent officer could not interfere in that matter," he said.

He said, "All this did not happen just like that. Earlier, an attempt was made to bring a similar bill on targeted violence. Many problems have arisen due to such things. All this was done as per a plan under a special conspiracy, which has to be corrected".

Hosabale said, "It is not just that only the Hindus are against this bill. The truth is that many people from the Muslim community have also presented their problems before the JPC."

He said, "They are the communities which are troubled by the excesses, exploitation and injustice of Waqf. That is why they are also objecting."  "The truth is that this is not an issue of any one party or community,' the RSS leader said.

On reports claiming a tussle between RSS and the BJP after a statement by the BJP national president on Sangh during the Lok Sabha elections, he said, "We are a public organisation. We have no tussle with any party, let alone the BJP, because we do not think anything like that. We meet everyone. We do not discriminate against anyone."

He also said, "Why should we hate? On the contrary, I have only this much to say that those who want to run a shop of love ('mohabbat kee dukaan') in the market of hatred ('nafrat kee baazaar'), do not want to meet us at all."

To a query on concerns about the "adverse effect" on the new generation from the content coming on independent platforms like social media and OTT, he said that the government should make arrangements for regulation in this matter.

On issues like religious conversion and love jihad, Hosabale said that the Sangh does not directly intervene in such matters.