'Bharat Already A Hindu Rashtra'; 'Nation' And 'State' Two Different Things: RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale During Key RSS Meet In Haryana

In a press conference, amid the ongoing key RSS meet, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said that India is already a 'Hindu Rashtra'.

Expanding on his views, he said "Nation is a cultural concept. Bharat is already a Hindu Rashtra. It doesn't need to be made a Hindu Rashtra".

He added that Nation and State are two different things, and while a nation is a 'cultural concept,' a state is established by the Constitution.

Hosabale was differentiating between a fluid civilisational nation that has been evolving over several millennia and a modern state rooted in the ethos of constitutional democracy.

According to him, RSS has been emphasising on the civilisational idea since the past century, more in an inclusionary context than an exclusionary one.

Hosabale also commented on Rahul Gandhi's recent speeches, while he was United Kingdom, advising him to speak more responsibly and recognize the Sangh's acceptance in society.

He added that RSS does not work in the political field and thus, he has no competition with the Sangh.

A three-day RSS meeting is currently underway in Samalkha, Haryana. The event that began on March 12 is being attended by over 1,400 office-bearers, including RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.

BJP President J P Nadda and General Secretary (Organization) B L Santhosh are also participating in the meeting.

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the highest decision-making body of the organization.

At the event, RSS also endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'panch pran' pledge to free the nation from the colonial mindset, in its resolution.

(with inputs from PTI)