In the middle of a raging debate over the ‘climate of intolerance’ in the country, an article in RSS mouthpiece Rashtra Dharma has claimed that Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya was against ‘Hindu-Muslim unity’ and believed that issue of ‘unity’ was ‘irrelevant’ and appeasement of the Muslims.

Titled “Muslim Samasya: Deendayal Ji Ki Drishti Mein”, the write-up appeared in a special edition of the Rashtra Dharma, which was released by Union Minister Kalraj Mishra in Lucknow on Sunday. This special issue of the monthly magazine is dedicated to Upadhyaya and carries articles about him and his views.

Written by Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, the article even claimed that Upadhyaya said that “a person turns an enemy of the nation after becoming a Muslim”.

According to the article, Upadhyaya also believed that while a Muslim may be good individually, he in “bad in a group”, and further a Hindu – who may be bad individually — is “good as part of a group”. The author said that the difference in the nature of the groups must be understood.

When contacted, Rashtra Dharma editor Anand Mishra ‘Abhay’ said that special issue on Upadhyaya was compiled at a very short notice.

About the article on Muslims, Mishra said, “I agree with the facts given in the article. This is true that the Muslims could not unite with the Hindus. Muslims even fight among themselves and with other communities like the Sikhs and the Parsis. Ram Manohar Lohia also agreed with Upadhyaya’s views. It is necessary to learn from history to improve our present and future.”

In the article, the author further claimed that Muslims still dreamt about restoring the Mughal rule and that Pakistan was a medium to achieve that target. Talking about Upadhyaya views on Muslims and Hindus, the write-up added:

“Hindus are rich in religious tolerance. In one family, people of different faiths can reside. But, when a person becomes a Muslim, he adopts a new nature to convert people to Islam. A Muslim calls non-Muslims ‘Kaafir’ and does not tolerate them.”

Advocating political defeat of the Muslims, the article claimed that changing the mentality of Muslims in India would be difficult till Pakistan was defeated “politically”.

“Political defeat will end his aggressive attitude and he will return to his original Hindu nature,” read the article.

According to the author, Upadhyaya called those advocating Hindu-Muslim unity as ‘Muslimparast’ and opposed such ‘unity’ policy of the Congress.

“If the nation’s control is in the hands of those who belong to India but are not different from Qutubuddin, Allauddin, Muhammad Tughlaq, Firoz Shah Tughlaq, Shershah, Akbar and Auarangzeb, then it should be said that centre of their affection isn’t the Indian life,” it read.

Upadhyaya had established Rashtra Dharma Prakashan in Lucknow on August 15, 1947. Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpyaee had also served as its joint editor.

The special issue released on Sunday carried greeting messages from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, UP Governor Ram Naik, Governor of West Bengal Keshri Nath Tripathi, Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind and BJP chief Amit Shah.

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