Homosexuality is not a crime; Owaisi an anti-national: RSS' Hosabale

If anyone refuses to say "Bharat Mata ki jai", then he or she is anti-national, said RSS' joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale at the India Today Conclave 2016 on March 17. Speaking at the session "Vision 2020: Does Hindutva Unite or Divide?" the RSS functionary also favoured decriminalisation of homosexuality. Hosabale expressed his views on the following issues. Excerpts:

Homosexuality

Sexual preference is not discussed in the RSS and we don't even want to discuss it. Homosexuality is not a criminal offence as long as it does not affect others in the society. Changing according to the time is an essential element of Hindutva. The RSS is trying to change according to the needs of the time.

Bharat Mata ki jai

"Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata ki jai" are not RSS' slogans. These were coined during the freedom struggle. We are not saying that the first thing one should do every morning is chant "Bharat Mata ki jai". But if someone says he/she won't chant "Bharat Mata ki jai" at all, that is anti-national for sure. All the political parties except Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) opposed what he said.

Beef ban

Mahatma Gandhi was also against beef-eating. He did not become communal, but RSS is communal. In India, beef-eating has not been accepted culturally. If Mahatma Gandhi was communal then I will accept RSS is communal.

RSS and freedom struggle

That the RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle is a baseless statement. Many RSS swayam sewaks participated in the freedom struggle. The history of the RSS should be studied by those who doubt the RSS' role in the freedom struggle. The RSS is not against any debate. Please see the RSS in the right perspective. People can't condemn it without a debate.

Hindutva

The RSS' "Vision 2020" is for a prosperous India and united Bharat which takes pride in its culture and heritage. Muslims should not think that they were rulers once and should again rule the country. The fear of Hindutva is created because of a wrong understanding or deliberate intentions. Those people who are born on this land are Hindus because this is Hindustan. Culture has many expressions in the country. We are against uniformity.

RSS and BJP

The RSS is not exerting any remote control either on the BJP or any other political party. There is no "control" of the RSS over the BJP. Certainly, they both are "remote" to each other.

Modi sarkar vs university politics

Anti-India feeling is being spread at university campuses, and anti-India is anti-national.

Ayodhya temple issue

We are confident that the way will be cleared for the Ram Janmabhomi temple. We are hopeful that the Ram temple will be built at Ayodhya.