Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh bats for linguistic diversity, says Urdu at home in Hindustan

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is embracing linguistic diversity and adopting a softer stance towards minorities. Senior RSS leader, Indresh Kumar, batted for Urdu to be considered part of Hindustan. Speaking at the 6th World Urdu Conference, which started on Monday, Indresh emphasised that the BJP government at the Centre has also provided a large budget to promote and conserve the language.

"Urdu is neither homeless nor an orphan. Hindustan is the home of Urdu. Its presence in the country can't be overlooked or ignored," he said.

He also brought out the linguistic multiplicity in Pakistan. "They speak Hindi, Punjabi and Sindhi there. It demonstrates the 'mili-juli tehzeeb that's the beauty of Hindustan," he said, just a day after he had said that Pakistan must be merged with India in a few years' time.

Indresh, patron of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an RSS-supported organisation, said, "Fundamentalism breeds hatred, which in turn leads to violence. No religious scripture has the word 'zealot'," he said.