Mohan Bhagwat's 'Hindu' remarks his personal view: Michael Lobo

Senior Goa BJP leader Michael Lobo has said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's controversial remarks that India is a Hindu nation were his personal opinion and feels the Centre does not endorse them.

"I don't think the Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, has consented to that," Lobo told reporters here last evening on the sidelines of the State Legislative Assembly session.

Lobo is BJP's North Goa unit President and represents Calangute constituency, which is a tourist hub.

The BJP leader said, "Whatever he (Bhagwat) expressed is his personal opinion. You cannot attribute it as motive of the union government."

The RSS Chief on Sunday had said, "Hindustan is a Hindu nation...Hindutva is the identity of our nation and it (Hinduism) can incorporate others (religions) in itself." Earlier, Goa State Legislative Assembly had witnessed a controversy when Co-operation Minister Dipak Dhavalikar had said that India would be developed as a Hindu nation under the leadership of Modi. Dhavalikar's statement had evoked strong reaction and Opposition benches had walked out from the House demanding explanation from the minister.