RSSTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (UCAN) – The leader of a rightwing Hindu group held out an olive branch to the heads of three Churches in Kerala on the weekend in a bid to improve its relations with Christians and Muslims.
“Our discussions were fruitful and on a friendly note,” Ram Madhav, spokesperson of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, national volunteers corps), told UCA News today [Feb. 8].
RSS is the umbrella organization of Hindu radical groups blamed for spearheading violence against Christians and Muslims in Gujarat, Orissa and other Indian states.
Madhav noted that there was apprehension among religious minority groups toward his organization.
He blamed some political parties for painting the RSS as anti-minority.
“But there is no truth in it. We want to clear those apprehensions and fears and pave way for a healthy dialogue,” he said.
Muslim leaders in his organization would hold discussions with Islamic leaders, he said.
In Kerala, Madhav met Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, president of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, and heads of two factions of the Orthodox Church and the Marthoma Church.
‘Church does not encourage forced conversions’
Madhav said he was invited by the Church leaders to their meeting on Feb. 24 in Kerala’s Kollam (formerly Quilon) town where RSS head Mohan Bhagwat is expected to attend.
Bishop Ignathios confirmed the meeting. Madhav “came to the bishop’s house and we had a brief meeting,” he told UCA News and added he told the RSS leader about Christian concern over violence against minorities in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people’s party).
BJP, India’s main opposition party, is considered the political arm of Hindu radical groups.
The Catholic bishop said he also told the RSS leader that the Church does not encourage “forced conversions” as the Hindu radicals allege.
The RSS initiative comes as Kerala prepares for state legislative assembly elections scheduled for April 2011. Christians and Muslims constitute 41 percent of the state’s electorate.
According to Father Paul Thelakat, editor of Church weekly “Satyadeepam” (light of truth), RSS and BJP have realized their anti-minority politics would not help them gain power in Kerala.
“We welcome dialogue with anybody as we have nothing to conceal or practice a hidden agenda. But we also don’t forget the reality,” the priest told UCA News. He says India would experience peace and harmony if the BJP and RSS changed their policies against minorities.
Sebastian Paul, political commentator and a former Member of Parliament, says the RSS move is a new strategy to win over religious minorities.
“The RSS leaders have realized that the road map to power lies with protecting the interests of minorities and not terrorizing them,” he told UCA News.
IB08761.1588 February 8, 2010 45 EM-lines (444 words)
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