Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chief Mohan Bhagwat said that Hindus respect all religions and that this is why India has not a fought battle with anyone over the issues that led to the war between Israel and Hamas.
The comments from the RSS chief came during a programme organised on Saturday to mark 350 years since the coronation of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“Everywhere else strifes are underway, for example the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. In our country, there were never wars on such issues. The invasion during Shivaji Maharaj's time was of that kind. But we never fought of battles on this issue with anybody. That is why we are Hindus”, Bhagwat said.
“In this country, there is a religion, culture that respects all sects and faiths. That religion in Hinduism. This is a country of Hindus. That does not mean we reject all other (religions). Once you say Hindu, it is not needed to be told that Muslims too were protected. Only Hindus do this. Only India does this. Others have not done this”, he further stated.
The comment from the RSS chief came amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas. The conflict broke out after Hamas launched a surprise attack on the southern part of Israel on 7 October.
Retaliating against the attack by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation against the armed Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip.
More than 3,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict, while more than 10,000 have been injured.