Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Monday launched a sharp attack on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remarks on Hindu-Muslim unity made at a faith leaders' conference in New York, alleging that the RSS has historically opposed democracy and practises ideological deception on minority rights.

What Bhagwat Said in New York

Speaking at the 'One World, One Humanity' conference in New York, Bhagwat asserted that a Hindu who believes Muslims should have no place in India ceases to be a Hindu. He further stated that Hindutva recognises the dignity of every human being and accepts different paths to the same truth — remarks widely seen as a conciliatory outreach on the international stage.

Owaisi's Counter: Name the People

Reacting pointedly, Owaisi questioned who exactly was making such anti-Muslim statements in the first place, and challenged Bhagwat to identify them publicly. 'Let them clarify this: who are the people saying that Muslims should not live in India? Whoever makes such nonsense statements either has links with the RSS or is inspired by RSS ideology. So, let them identify those people,' Owaisi said.

He alleged that Bhagwat's New York speech reflected a long-standing RSS strategy of presenting one ideological face to its cadre and a different, more moderate image to international audiences. 'One narrative is crafted for its supporters, often articulated by the Sarsanghchalak or other ideological figures in books, while a different version is projected to the broader public,' he said.

US Pressure and Ideological Roots

Owaisi further claimed that external pressure — specifically from the US State Department's religious freedom office — was behind the timing of Bhagwat's remarks. 'The United States' religious freedom office of the State Department is putting pressure on them. So, they are making such statements for optics. But the reality is different,' he said.

The AIMIM chief also invoked the writings of H.V. Seshadri to argue that RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar had historically opposed Hindu-Muslim unity, alleging that Hedgewar left the Indian National Congress precisely because people of different religions were uniting against British rule. 'That is one indication,' Owaisi added.

RSS and Democracy: Owaisi's Allegation

Owaisi went further, alleging that a book published in Nagpur had articulated the RSS's belief in 'one flag, one leader, and one ideology' — a framework he argued left no room for pluralism or democratic diversity. 'The RSS has never believed in democracy; instead, it advocates a dictatorship,' he claimed.

He also challenged the RSS to place the complete writings of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, M.S. Golwalkar, Hedgewar, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Rajju Bhaiya before the world. 'Let the world decide. This is nothing but a deception,' he said.

BJP Tickets, Bulldozers, and the 2027 UP Polls

Turning to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Owaisi questioned how Bhagwat could speak of fraternity when the BJP — which he described as a wing of the RSS — does not field Muslim candidates. He also cited the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation, reported mob lynchings, and alleged calls for violence against minorities at religious assemblies as evidence of what he called a contradiction between the RSS's stated values and its actions. 'You are using bulldozers and demolishing people's homes. So, all of this is wrong and deceptive,' he added.

On the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Owaisi said it was too early to predict seat numbers, adding that the AIMIM would resume ground-level meetings and public gatherings in Uttar Pradesh after 20 September.