Six questions by Muslim clerics that ‘irritated’ RSS

KANPUR: A delegation of Muslim clerics led by the Sunni Ulema Council's General Secretary met RSS functionary Indresh and posed six questions to the Sangh including whether it has prepared a format to turn India into a Hindu 'Rashtra', which he claimed left the saffron outfit irritated. The Muslim delegation claimed that Indresh refused to answer their questions and instead said that a conference of Muslim organisations should be called where he would give the answers. "We had a meeting with senior RSS functionary Indreshji last night during which we asked six questions, but he did not have any answer," Sunni Ulema Council General Secretary Haji Mohammed Salees told PTI today. He alleged that Indreshji, who is a pracharak and looks after minority affairs in the organisation, got "irritated" with the questions. The six questions are as follows - 1) “Whether RSS considers India a Hindu country?” 2) “Whether RSS has prepared a format to turn India into a Hindu 'rashtra'?” 3) “Whether this Hindu 'Rashtra' will be according to Hindu religious texts or RSS has chalked out a new philosophy?” 4) "What do they want on religious conversion?” 5) “What type of 'Rashtra Prem' (patriotism) RSS wants from Muslims?” 6) “How RSS views Islam?" Salees said that that Indreshji “failed” to answer the six questions. "They (RSS) did not have any format. They are shouting about 'Hindu Rashtra' only on the basis of propaganda," he alleged. He also feared that if Hindu Rashtra was built on Hindu texts, Dalits could once again be prevented from entering temples. "We asked whether a new philosophy has been chalked out by RSS. If a new philosophy has been chalked out that means Hindu religion is not religious culture. In that case, anyone can convert," he said. Salees said when the Constitution provides freedom of religion, why is the RSS afraid of bringing a bill. "We are not afraid. If any Muslim does not like Islam and wants to leave, he can go. We don't have any law to keep anyone Muslim by compulsion," he said. Salees said as far as love for the country was concerned, their ancestors rejected Jinnah and Pakistan. "In 1947, when the concept of two countries was decided, our ancestors rejected Jinnah and Pakistan and accepted Gandhiji as our leader, India as our country and expressed faith in the Constitution," he said. "What do they want from the Muslims? They should sing Vande Matram and bow before the picture of Bharat Mata, which they have visualized? We won't accept it. It is against Islam," he said. "The ultimate result of the 90-minute meeting was they (RSS) asked us to call a 'sammelan' of Muslims and they will reply (to our posers)," Salees said. "I said that when you cannot answer these questions in a room, then how will you do so in a conference. We then asked as to why should we call a conference," he said. Salees said there was restlessness among Muslims over these issues and "I came to get a reply to these questions being raised in our community." "I believe whatever be our religion, we should be honest towards the Constitution. Religion is our personal thing. It is not an issue of the nation. We don't even support the statements of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi,” he added. "Those flaring communal passion are not loyal to the country. The country will run on the principles of Gandhiji, it will not run on the statements of Owaisi or Sangh," he added.   PTI