LUCKNOW: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is using its senior functionary Indresh Kumar to bridge the gap between the pariwar and Muslim community. Kumar, who is also the chief patron an organization called Muslim Rashtriya Manch, told TOI on Sunday that the manch will soon form five working groups to resolve the contentious issues related to minorities like uniform civil code, Article 370 and Ayodhya temple issue.

He said that the working groups will consist largely of Muslim scholars, writers, intellectuals, officers apart from some Hindus as well. In Lucknow for the past two days, he attended a 'Raksha Bandhan' celebration with Muslim women and also addressed a gathering of Christian Community. Although his Muslim Rashtriya Manch is not directly linked to the RSS, in the past also Kumar has been working among the minorities to spruce up the anti-Muslim image of the Sangh Pariwar.

The state's intelligence sleuths keeping a close eye on his movements disclosed to the TOI that he was holdings talks and indoor meetings with Muslim leaders across the country. An engineering graduate, he camped in Varanasi for months before the Lok Sabha election to win over a large population of Muslim voters in favour of the BJP. Political observers say that his efforts resulted in a perceptible change in the opinion of a section of Muslim community about the saffron party and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Elaborating on the new strategy of his manch, Kumar said that the first working group would be for holding talks with the Muslim community on solving the issues related to Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura shrines. He said that the some conservative and hardcore Muslim leaders and pseudo secularists had been holding the custody of the entire community which was full of moderate and liberal people and the working group would directly hold talks with the liberals so that a permanent solution could be achieved in the cases related to the three shrines .

The second working group would be for thrashing out a uniform rule of law or code without disturbing the internal and inherited legal framework provided by their caste, creed or religion. "If some communities have their internal rules and guidelines which they have inherited since the beginning of their religion, the idea is that they would not be disturbed but an overall uniform law would be framed which is the need of the hour so that in case of a dispute between two communities or the sects the law could guide them for some solution," he said.

The third working group to be constituted is aimed at holding dialogues with all the stake holders on the relevance of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that it was the time for the review of Article 370 and a consensus be developed for annulling it.

The fourth working group would be to ensure and guarantee education and employment to Muslims so that poverty and backwardness of the community could be addressed.

The fifth working group would be working on the ways to make the country free from communal riots and violence, he said. By focusing on the main socio-religious issues of the Muslims and committing to solve the problems of backwardness, illiteracy and the unemployment, the community would be free from the clutches of the pseudo secularists and the self -styled custodians from, Kumar .

When asked about the Gujarat riots and alleged involvement of the then chief minister Narendra Modi ,he said those whoever talks in such manner is indulging in contempt of court as all investigating agencies and the courts have given him a clean chit.

