File photo of Mohan Bhagwat

AMRITSAR: Sikh bodies have objected to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat ’s statement on Hindu nation. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Thursday said India was a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious nation and the Indian Constitution grants freedom to people of every religion.

“It is unfortunate that RSS chief is deliberately imposing a Hindu nation agenda, which is in contempt of Indian Constitution,” said Longowal.

While advising Bhagwat to refrain from giving such statements, Longowal said it couldn’t be tolerated that RSS was trying to influence Sikhs as well as people of other religions with Hindu nation ideology.

The RSS chief had on October 8, during a Dussehra function at Nagpur, said “Bharat is a Hindu Rashtra ,” and Hindus need to unite if they want to be heard by the world.

SAD (Taksali) secretary general and chief spokesman Sewa Singh Sekhwan said, “Such statements tend to bring a sense of aversion in Indians who belong to other religions and cultures. Use of such words by the chief of such huge an organization expresses his mindset.”

Sekhwan also advised the RSS chief to respect the sentiments with which the Indian constitution was formed and not give any such statements which goes against it.

