‘RSS, BJP are different bodies’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 20

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has washed its hands of the statement of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat after he termed all Indians Hindus. State BJP president Shwait Malik categorically stated that the BJP and the RSS were separate organisations. He refused to comment on the controversial statement given by the head of a different organisation. “RSS Spokesperson RK Sinha must be approached over the matter,” he said.

A large number of Sikh masses here and abroad are offended with the statement of the RSS chief.

Sameep Singh, NRI Sikh who has been residing in the USA’s Dayton Ohio for the past nearly two decades, stated that despite constant efforts of the BJP-led Central Government to win over Sikh masses, a major section of the community felt offended.

Bhagwat’s statement elicited strong reaction from Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal. He said the Centre certainly took several steps to meet demands of the community.

Though the Centre never admitted officially, efforts to reach out to disgruntled Sikhs abroad started when Modi had visited the UK in 2015.