Intensifying the campaign for reaching out to Muslims, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh senior functionary Indresh Kumar visited Islamic seminary Darul Uloom at Deoband in Saharanpur on Thursday.
Later, Kumar, who also heads RSS affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), said that it was a courtesy visit and he had gone to the seminary with the message of brotherhood and mutual love.
On its part, the seminary maintained that its doors were open for everyone.
Kumar attended a function organised by MRM in Deoband after which he went to Darul Uloom where he was welcomed by Mohatmim (chancellor) of seminary, Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani. Nomani apprised Kumar of the history of ulema’s role in freedom struggle.
“Our doors are always open for visitors. We welcomed Indreshji with an open heart,” he said.
The RSS leader said, “We come here with the message of mutual love and brotherhood which is only way the country can move forward to prosperity. The government should devise methods to upgrade education and increase job opportunities for everyone.”
Without naming anyone, Kumar said: “There are a few opportunistic leaders who try to create a rift between two communities and create a sense of fear among minorities. But we are of the view that all must follow their respective religions and respect others’ faiths.”
This is the second interaction of the RSS leader with Muslim clerics in last less than two months, particularly with Deobandi Sunni Muslims, known for practising hard-line and orthodox version of Islam.
Earlier during Ramzan, Kumar had attended an iftar party organised by Muslim Rashtriya Manch in Delhi on May 8 and was joined by senior RSS leaders and Muslim representatives of the BJP.
The MRM was earlier at loggerheads with Darul Uloom Deoband following its call to all madarsas to hoist tricolour on Republic Day in 2016. Darul Uloom retaliated against the move asking whether the RSS ‘believed’ in the Constitution of India and the national flag.
The seminary maintained that even though the decision to hoist tricolour was the choice of madarsas, almost all, not only hoisted the national flag but also celebrated Independence and Republic days.
It had also questioned the contribution of the RSS to the national freedom struggle.
It also claimed that many people were ignorant of the immense contribution of madarsas in the freedom struggle.