india

Updated: Jul 26, 2017 12:02 IST

The Muslim wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is starting a campaign to popularise planting of ‘tulsi’ in minority community households, asserting that the plant with known medicinal properties is not a symbol of Hinduism but national unity.

A resolution to popularise tulsi – basil – was taken at the national executive meeting of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), formed in 2002 to bridge growing differences the minority community and the RSS.

Besides, the MRM resolution also vowed to “reclaim” Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and fight for a countrywide ban on cow slaughter, one of the biggest issues for the Sangh Parivar.

The move on tulsi, however, could irk a section of Muslim organisations which accuse the RSS of trying to impose Hindutva customs and traditions on the community. Many Mulsims sees the campaign for ban on cow slaughter as an attack on the community’s eating habits.

“Tulsi, known as Reyhaan in the holy book of Muslims, has medicinal value and is considered a ‘jannat ka pedh’ (tree from heaven). There is a myth that tulsi is worshiped by Hindus alone.

We are trying to get as many Muslims as possible to grow tulsi in their homes for its medicinal and environment-friendly properties,” Mohd Afzal of the MRM told HT.

An effort to popularise tulsi last year did not take off. The MRM is redoubling it efforts to counter what it calls misgivings about growing tulsi in Muslim homes.

“Even in Dubai there is a park which has more than one 10 kinds of tulsi,” Afzal said.

Endemic to Southeast Asia, tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is one of the most common household plants in India. Leaves of the plant are an integral part of gandmother’s medicines for ailments such as cold and cough. The leaves are also used in Hindu religious ceremonies.

Besides tulsi, Afzal said, the MRM will to commemorate the Quit India movement by flaging off a march from Srinagar on August 9 to reclaim PoK.

“Time has come to reclaim our region and start a movement to throw Pakistan out of Kashmir. It is time to fill the vacant seats in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly by either allowing PoK members to contest elections or by nominating them. We will push the government to support our demand,” Afzal said.

In the J&K assembly, 24 seats are designated for the constituencies of the state that fall in PoK.

The MRM has also urged the community to refrain from slaughtering cows on Eid that falls in September and to find a peaceful resolution to the Ayodhya temple issue.