Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has reiterated that Islam has been a part of India since its introduction, and will remain in the country.
Making a strong pitch for Hindus and Muslims to have mutual trust in each other, Bhagwat said those who think that Islam will vanish are "not guided by Hindu thought".
Addressing a question and answer session to mark the centenary celebrations of the RSS, Bhagwat said the Sangh does not believe in attacking anyone, including on religious grounds, and has always extended a helping hand to everyone during calamities such as the Kerala floods and the Gujarat earthquake.
The RSS chief said he believed religion was a matter of individual choice and there should be no allurement or force in this matter.
"Hindus and Muslims are the same... so there's no question of unity between them; only their form of worship has changed. We are already one. What is there to unite? What has changed? Merely the method of worship has changed; does it really make a difference?" Bhagwat asked.
He said Islam has been in India since time immemorial and has stayed on till date, and will remain in the future as well.
"The idea that Islam will not remain is not Hindu thinking. Both Hindus and Muslims need to have mutual trust in each other," Bhagwat said.
On the issue of changing the names of roads and towns bearing Muslim names, the RSS chief said his only insistence was that roads or towns should not be named after invaders.
"Invaders' names should not be there. I did not say there should be no Muslim names... APJ Abdul Kalam, Abdul Hameed’s names should be there," he said.
The RSS chief cited conversion and illegal migration as key reasons behind demographic imbalance in the country, and said the government is trying to curb infiltration and urged society also needs to play its part.
Bhagwat said jobs should not go to illegal migrants but to "our own people, including Muslims".
"Conversion and illegal migration are key reasons for demographic imbalance. We should not give jobs to illegal migrants; we should give jobs to our own people, including Muslims," he said.
The RSS chief was asked about the Sangh’s view on illegal immigration into the country.
Bhagwat said that he agreed with the contention that people of Bangladesh and India have the same DNA, but every country has its rules and regulations, and people willing to migrate should follow these rules.
"The entire world is ‘Kutumb’ (family), but every place has its own standards. Freedom is discipline also. Not allowing illegal migrants in the country doesn't contradict the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'," Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat also dismissed allegations that the RSS had indulged in acts of violence.
"No organisation that engages in violence can reach 75 lakh places in Bharat or gain such support. If we were like that, would we be holding such programmes? We would be hiding underground somewhere," the RSS chief said.
(With PTI inputs)
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