'RSS is not anti-Christian, nor anti-Muslim'

[Guest guest]

'RSS is neither anti-Christian, nor anti-Muslim'

Bangalore, March 23

 

RSS chief K S Sudarshan and Christian leaders held another round of

talks centering around conversion and violence against members of

the community, with both sides agreeing to continue the dialogue.

 

Christian leaders expressed their concern over issues that "threaten

the security and safety of minority communities", particularly in

the context of an RSS resolution stating that minorities should earn

the goodwill of the majority for safety.

 

"Sudarshan has made some bold statements. There is an emergence of

openness to listen to each other," Ken Gnanakan, moderator of the

dialogue, told reporters after the sixth round of talks here.

 

On the outcome, he said: "We cannot solve problems in three hours.

It is like a family. But we will continue the dialogue. Our

relations with RSS is very fine. This is the result. No limit on

dialogue. It is an ongoing process."

 

Sudarshan sought to allay apprehensions about RSS and said it had

been depicted as "anti-Christian, anti-Muslim and an uncompromising

militant group" by a section of the media.

 

RSS, Christian leaders clash on ‘conversions’

 

DH News Service

BANGALORE, March 22

 

The sixth national-level discussion between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and

the Christian leaders held in the City today sparked a serious discussion on the

issue of ‘conversions’ - while the RSS termed ‘forced conversions to

Christianity’ as a blot on the secular fabric, the latter maintained that

religion was a matter of choice.

However, no consensus or decision was reached at the end of the 210-minute long

discussion, which was held at the United Theological College in the City. RSS

Chief K S Sudarshan expressed opposition to conversions by Christians and called

on the latter to learn to respect the Hindu religion. Alleging that conversions

were rampant in the north-eastern states, he asked the Christians to be “the

salt and light of the earth without actually changing the person's religion.”

He also came down on the churches which secured funds from foreign countries

like Germany and the Netherlands by asking “why can’t there be Indian Churches?”

These churches can generate funds from within the country and also from

non-resident Indians, he said.

He reiterated the RSS’s stance that the safety of the minorities rested on the

goodwill of the majority. Recalling former home minister Sardar Patel’s quote in

1949 and former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s in 1982, he said both leaders had

made it clear to minorities that they should learn to co-exist with the majority

to preserve the unity and integrity of the country. A case in point are the

Kashmiri pandits, he noted.

CHRISTIAN SPEAK: Christian leaders urged the RSS not to make controversial

statements which can shake their confidence. The Christians made it clear that

they were ready to work together with the RSS in the country’s cultural arena,

but would not compromise when it came to religion.

Bangalore City Police Commissioner H T Sangliana, who participated, said the

confusion resulting from the mixture of politics and religion had started from

the corridors of the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

He added: ‘’These days, the common perception is that there has been an

unnecessary politicisation of religion. We are in trouble due to this mixture.”

Mr Sangliana, who hails from Mizoram, also opposed the view of Mr Sudharshan

that forced conversions were taking place in Mizoram.

‘’My grandfather was not a Christian. My father was not a Christian in the

beginning. When no religious leaders of Islam and Hindu had ventured into

Mizoram, it was only Christians who provided religious guidance to the Mizos.

Had any Hindu priest come to the north-east 150 years ago and taught lessons on

Rama and Sita, I too would have become a Hindu,’’ Mr Sangliana said. Urging the

members of both communities to bury the hatchet, Mr Sangliana said conversion

should be viewed as transformation.