Mumbai, February 8: Congress leader Hussain Dalwai has strongly responded to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statements regarding Hindutva. He emphasized that the Constitution of India grants equal rights to all religions, and any form of discrimination is unacceptable.
Dalwai clarified that under the Constitution, Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, tribals, women, and minorities all have equal rights. However, he noted that certain organizations have consistently opposed this equality.
In a conversation, Dalwai stated that Bhagwat’s remarks are connected to the fundamental spirit of the Constitution, yet the implementation of equal rights remains lacking.
He accused that Muslims and farmers are currently facing attacks, which is deeply concerning. He questioned Bhagwat’s silence on these issues.
Dalwai stressed the importance of openly discussing such incidents to maintain harmony in society.
Referring to the India-Pakistan partition, he acknowledged that the formation of Pakistan was against the sentiments of Hindus, but many Muslims also opposed it at that time.
He alleged that some members of the RSS colluded with the Muslim League to gain power. Dalwai believes that now that India and Pakistan are separate, efforts should be made to improve relations and foster unity between the two nations.
He pointed out that when the Prime Minister visits Malaysia to assist its people, it raises questions about how to manage relations with Pakistan. Quoting socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, he stated that if India respects its Muslims, Pakistan will weaken on its own. Conversely, if Muslims in India are oppressed, Pakistan will find issues to exploit against India.
Responding to the India-U.S. trade deal, Hussain Dalwai warned that it could severely harm India’s agricultural sector. He claimed that agricultural products from the U.S. would enter India without tariffs, while Indian products exported to the U.S. would still face an 18% tariff. He criticized the government’s assertion that tariffs have been reduced, calling it misleading to the public.
Dalwai further stated that this trade deal would directly disadvantage Indian farmers. He labeled it as unequal and one-sided, urging the government to consider the interests of farmers and the agricultural sector when making such international agreements to prevent harm to domestic producers.