Ashok Gehlot Welcomes Madani’s Outreach but Seeks Clarity from RSS Chief on Kashi-Mathura Remarks
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday described as a “positive development” the recent statement by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani, who voiced support for dialogue with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
However, Gehlot also raised serious concerns over the contradictory remarks of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat regarding the disputed temple issues of Kashi and Mathura.
Speaking to ANI, Gehlot said that dialogue between communities is always welcome and should be encouraged. “If Mehmood Madani has said this, then what is wrong with it?
This is a very good initiative,” he remarked. But he quickly turned to what he viewed as ambiguity in Mohan Bhagwat’s own statements.
According to Gehlot, Bhagwat sometimes makes reassuring comments that inspire confidence across communities, yet at other times, he issues remarks that can fuel tension.
Specifically, Gehlot questioned Bhagwat’s observation that while the RSS as an organisation would not support movements around the Kashi and Mathura shrines, individual swayamsevaks would be free to join such campaigns if they wished.
Gehlot stressed that this half-commitment creates confusion and may open the door to fresh unrest. Drawing from history, he recalled how the Ram Janmabhoomi movement had thrown the entire nation into turmoil in the 1990s, sparking deep communal divisions.
“What he means by saying this is that such a fire should be ignited again in the country regarding Kashi-Mathura? It is uncertain where this conflict will lead. Mohan Bhagwat made such a significant statement suddenly. He should also explain,” Gehlot said firmly.
His remarks followed the conciliatory approach of Maulana Mahmood Madani a day earlier. Madani, while acknowledging differences between communities, underscored the need to reduce them through dialogue. He noted that his organisation had already passed a resolution in favour of engagement with the RSS and emphasized that Bhagwat’s efforts to reach out to the Muslim community must be recognised.
“There are a lot of ifs and buts. But we will support all kinds of talks,” Madani said, referring to the RSS chief’s statements on Gyanvapi and the Mathura-Kashi disputes.
Mohan Bhagwat, in his earlier address, had reiterated that the Ram Mandir movement was the only campaign officially backed by the RSS.
At the same time, he clarified that while the organisation would not directly engage in Kashi and Mathura issues, its members were free to support such causes individually. Bhagwat also touched upon other themes, including religious demography, conversions, illegal migration, and the importance of employing Indian citizens.
While Madani welcomed Bhagwat’s outreach, Gehlot demanded that the RSS chief offer unambiguous clarity. According to him, such half-statements have the potential to reignite dormant disputes, disturb peace, and push the country toward unnecessary conflict.
Political Undercurrent
Ashok Gehlot’s remarks also reflect a broader political contrast. The Congress party has consistently positioned itself as a force for communal harmony, inclusiveness, and constitutional values.
By questioning Bhagwat’s ambiguity, Gehlot is highlighting how the RSS—through carefully worded but open-ended statements—can keep sensitive religious disputes alive without taking direct institutional responsibility.
According to Congress leaders, such strategies create an atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty, which polarises communities.
By welcoming Madani’s call for dialogue but pressing Bhagwat for clarity, Gehlot is trying to frame Congress as the voice of peace and restraint, while subtly holding the Sangh accountable for its role in shaping the national discourse on sensitive temple-mosque issues.
Reactions from Other Leaders
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also indirectly alluded to the issue, remarking that “India cannot afford to go back to an era where faith is used to divide communities and pit one citizen against another. True patriotism lies in building harmony, not in reopening old wounds.”
Minority leaders within Congress, such as Salman Khurshid, pointed out that ambiguity in Bhagwat’s remarks leaves “grey zones” that can be exploited by fringe groups to stir unrest.
“The RSS cannot wash its hands of responsibility by saying its workers are free to act on their own. This is exactly how mass mobilisations spiraled out of control in the past,” Khurshid said.
Opposition figures outside Congress also weighed in. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the RSS chief’s position, saying, “This doublespeak is dangerous.
On one hand, the Sangh says it won’t directly interfere, and on the other, it indirectly allows its cadres to stoke fire in Kashi and Mathura. The people of India deserve clarity, not confusion.”
Counter-Responses from BJP and RSS
BJP leaders, however, defended Bhagwat’s position. Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi argued that the RSS chief’s statement was being “misinterpreted for political mileage.”
He said, “What Bhagwat ji clearly stated is that the Sangh as an organisation will not be launching any agitation, but as citizens of this country, swayamsevaks are free to hold their personal beliefs and act within the democratic framework. There is nothing unconstitutional or inflammatory in that.”
RSS functionaries also emphasised that Bhagwat’s remarks were being twisted. A senior pracharak, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “The Sangh has already clarified that our official involvement was limited to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Bhagwat ji was only acknowledging the constitutional rights of individuals. To present it as an incitement is misleading.”
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that Congress was “desperately trying to manufacture fear around the RSS” to consolidate minority votes.
“The fact is, the RSS chief is speaking about dialogue, peace, and demographic balance. But Congress wants to exploit religious sentiments to distract from its political irrelevance,” Joshi said.
The Road Ahead
The exchange of remarks underscores the deeply sensitive nature of the Kashi and Mathura disputes. With Muslim leaders like Madani welcoming dialogue, Congress pressing for absolute clarity, and BJP-RSS defending Bhagwat’s nuanced position, the debate reveals the fragile balance between faith, politics, and national unity.
Whether this moment will move India closer to dialogue and reconciliation, or reignite old tensions, will depend on how responsibly political and social leaders handle their words in the days ahead.
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