Muslims can be at shakha if they chant 'Bharat Mata': RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

VARANASI: Shakhas would welcome all those who respect the ' Bharat Mata ki Jai ' slogan and 'bhagwa jhanda' ( saffron flag ). RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said this on Sunday morning at a shakha here while replying to a question whether Muslims could attend shakhas.

On a four-day visit to Varanasi, Bhagwat attended a shakha at Lajpat Nagar Colony. He was taking questions from swayamsewaks after speaking on the need for forming a strong society by ending caste discrimination and dwelling on environmental, economic and other issues. One swayamsewak wanted to know whether Muslims could join shakhas, to which Bhagwat said, "All Indians are welcome at the shakhas. The only condition is that each one coming to join shakha should have no hesitation in chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and must show respect for the saffron flag."

Although Indians had different religious practices, their culture was same, said Bhagwat, mentioning that people from all faiths, sects and castes in India were welcome at the shakhas. Before taking part in the events at Lajpat Nagar, Bhagwat held a meeting with Vedic scholars of Kashi on Saturday evening where he exhorted them to work hard to achieve the goal of making India a Vishwa Guru.