By Muslim Mirror Staff

Prominent Muslim intellectuals and leaders wrote to the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, to express their concerns about the ongoing barrage of hate speech, calls for the genocidal extermination of Muslims, and violent acts against them.

The delegation of Muslim intellectuals and leaders, who met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, said it was disappointed that no concrete and positive action has been taken against the continuous hate speech by Hindu organizations.

The group said that there has been no reduction in hate speech, threats of massacre and incidents of violence against Muslims. The letter also drew attention to anti-Muslim marches by Hindu organizations in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

According to the letter, even after the meetings, there has been no reduction in the incidents of targeting Muslims by the Sangh and the BJP.

The group demanded that Bhagwat, the Union government, and the State governments “speak more” in denouncing the incidents of assaults against Muslims.

The members of the Muslim community maintained that the recent ‘anti-Muslim’ marches in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh were full of hate and included calls for boycott of Muslim businesses. They said that these rallies and speeches happened in the presence of police and that there was no action. “Even if there is action, it’s perfunctory and people are let off with ease. This is causing anguish and immense consternation among Muslims,” the group said in the letter.

The group cited Bhagwat as saying that “nation-building will not be possible if we do not take along all sections, including the minorities that constitute 20% of India,” underscoring the legitimacy of the RSS and its willingness to promote nationalism.

“Therefore, under the circumstances, it is absolutely imperative that voices such as yours, as indeed from senior echelons of the Sangh, are heard loud and clear to condemn such acts and to clear our country of communal discord and speak of love and harmony,” the letter added.

“India is positioning itself among the great nations of the world. We cannot simply let internal discord — in any form — come in the way now. We, as a group, are continuing our efforts and expanding our outreach to other influential sections of society to get them to join in this endeavour,” the letter further read.

Former Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, former Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd), Rashtriya Lok Dal national vice-president Shahid Siddiqui, and businessman Saeed Shervani were among the Muslim representatives.