LONDON: The RSS shrugged off criticism by civil groups of its chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s UK trip, saying in a democracy differences of opinions are expected and “should not be taken as a shock”.The RSS head arrived in London on Sept 2 on the final leg of his three-city outreach RSS centenary tour, having just visited New York and Toronto on a “dialogue mission.”Hindus for Human Rights UK and several other campaign groups wrote an open letter to London mayor Sadiq Khan asking him to condemn the visit, pointing out New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani had done that.Labour PIO MP Nadia Whittome tabled a written parliamentary question asking the home office whether “the visit engages the commitment to block hate preachers and extremists from entering the UK”.“We are here for peace, integration and oneness and we are open for dialogue with everyone. In a democracy, it is very normal to raise different voices. We are engaging with those who wish to dialogue with us,” RSS head of media Sunil Ambekar said at a press briefing on Friday.
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“We are here to communicate what we are and how we think. We are very much open. We have nothing to hide. We expect a debate and exchange of thoughts. Let them speak.”On allegations the RSS was behind the 2022 Leicester riots, Ambekar said this was a “UK domestic issue”. “There is no question… RSS was not involved. Already people are finding out their legal options. Hindus are a peace-loving community.”He said there are a lot of “misconceptions” in the West. “Bharat is not a nation state political concept — it is a cultural concept. Hindutva is not like any religion — it’s a concept where there will be respect for all religious practices. That is Hindutva, and that is Bharat, so I think the trip will help to clear the ideas,” he said.A spokesperson for the London mayor said the mayor “does not have the power” to ban people from speaking. “London is proud to celebrate our diversity and intolerance has no place in our great city,” the spokesperson said.
