RSS

iftar party

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

Muslim community

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Guests at an iftar party organised by the RSS in Nagpur last year

Diplomats from Islamic countries, prominent citizens invited for the event to be held on June 4.Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the, will host anfor diplomats from Islamic countries and prominent members of the community on June 4 at the Sahyadri guest house in Malabar Hill. This is the first time thewill be holding an iftar party in Mumbai.Virag Pachpore, national convenor of MRM, said, “Consuls general of about 30 countries, 200 prominent members of theas well as 100 members from other communities are expected to attend the event.”The RSS started holding such events in 2015 to reach out to the Muslim community, apparently, after’s decision not to host such parties at Prime Minister’s residence. However, the RSS events to mingle with the Muslim community were mostly confined to north India.The event in Mumbai is an attempt by the Sangh to reach out to Muslims in western and southern parts of the country.Pachpore said, “Mumbai is the financial capital of India, and a large number of countries have their consulates here. Mumbai is home to many Muslim businessmen who have contributed to the nation’s growth, and there are many Muslim personalities who are a vital part of the entertainment industry. Through this iftar party, we would like to interact with them.”According to Pachpore, one of the reasons for organising the event is to remove misgivings amongst the minority community about the RSS. “We are not against any community. In fact, we want to promote harmony, peace and a feeling of brotherhood among citizens of all communities across the country,” he said.Political analyst Prakash Akolkar said, “This is part of the RSS’s game plan to show how they treat all communities as equally and that they are not against any particular community, especially Muslims. But unless they address the concerns of Muslims on issues like beef ban and the violence over it, common civil code and alleged targeting of Muslim youths in the name of terrorism, there cannot be an honest dialogue between the Sangh and the Muslim community.”