Tue Dec 24 10:44:21 UTC 2024: ## RSS Chief’s Plea for Religious Harmony Met with Backlash from Hindu Organizations
**New Delhi** – A growing rift within Hindu organizations has emerged following RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for restraint in escalating Mandir-Masjid disputes across northern India. Bhagwat warned against using such controversies to gain political leadership, stating that inflaming communal tensions will not bring true leadership among Hindus. However, this appeal has been met with significant pushback from prominent Hindu seers and organizations.
Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (AKSS), criticized Bhagwat’s statement, asserting that decisions regarding religious matters should be made by religious leaders, not the RSS, which he termed a “cultural organization.” He pointed to the identification of 56 new sites claimed to have temple structures beneath existing mosques, despite similar past appeals by Bhagwat.
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, another influential Hindu seer, echoed this sentiment, stating that the RSS should defer to spiritual figures on religious issues. He declared his organization would pursue these matters through legal, electoral, and public means. Rambhadracharya’s pointed remark, “Mohan Bhagwat is not our disciplinarian, but we are,” underscores the depth of the dissent.
This open defiance marks a significant turning point, representing the first major internal challenge to Bhagwat’s leadership within the traditionally unified saffron ecosystem. Analysts suggest Bhagwat’s call for restraint might stem from concerns about the BJP government’s ability to manage the situation if the disputes spiral out of control. Recent incidents, including riots in Sambhal following disputes over the Shahi Jama Masjid, highlight the volatile nature of these conflicts. Bhagwat’s statement followed numerous legal challenges by Hindu groups seeking the demolition of mosques alleged to be built on temple sites.
First Piper 