New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said at an event in the US that the organisation was not like the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ group of America. The Ku Klux Klan is an American white supremacist group. Refusing to agree with comparisons between RSS and the Ku Klux Klan, he said that the Sangh works around issues associated with different spheres of society.
Hosabale clears misunderstandings around RSS
Hosabale was speaking at the New India Conference in Washington DC. The event was organised by Hudson Institute. While speaking at the event, the RSS leader tried to clear misconceptions among the people of the US, regarding the organisation.
He said that a narrative had been built, either intentionally or unintentionally regarding the RSS in the US. The narrative, he said, promotes the idea that the “RSS is a Hindu supremacist organisation or that it is anti-Christian, anti-minority, anti-development and anti-modernisation.”
He said that what is pro or good in the organisation has not been highlighted, instead the focus has been on the anti or negative. He said that the RSS was presented as the “Indian version of Ku Klux Klan” but it was clearly not that.
He said that Hindu philosophy views the world as one family and does not endorse supremacy, reported PTI. He said, “We see oneness in everything, living and non-living. When that is the basic philosophy of Hindus, the question of a supremacist nature does not arise. Also, in history, Hindus have never invaded any country.”
He said that the aim of the RSS was to instill a sense of service and inculcate life values aimed at promoting social harmony. For this very purpose the organisation holds 83,000 daily shakha meetings. He said that people from all walks of life have worked as volunteers for us.
RSS involved in social work
Hosabale then highlighted the social work that RSS takes up. He said that the organisation carried out relief work during natural calamities and is also actively involved in areas like education, health, self-defence, rural development and environmental issues.
He said that cultural values and modernisation can coexist. There may however be some contradictions, between the 2, he added. He said that the coexistence of culture and modernisation is visible in several societies in recent decades.