AHMEDABAD: In a significant development, Dr. Pravin Togadia, a once-prominent Hindutva hardliner who distanced himself from the Sangh Parivar after resigning as the international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), made a visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters on 12th October after a six-year hiatus.
During his visit, Togadia held detailed discussions with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, delving into a range of topics including Hindutva, women empowerment, and other pressing issues.
In an exclusive conversation with TNIE, Dr. Praveen Togadia stated, “Both the RSS chief and I decided it was time to meet, so we did in Nagpur on Dussehra. Our meeting wasn’t prompted by any intermediary, reason, or political agenda. The RSS and I have been working on the same issues. During our discussions, I had extensive talks with the Sangh chief on Hindutva, particularly the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh.”
Togadia said that in addition to Hindutva, the Sangh chief and he also discussed women’s safety and initiatives to train women to become strong, empowered citizens. “We delved into health-related matters and other national issues as well. Since both our organizations and the RSS are focused on Hindutva, there is potential for collaboration on certain fronts in the future,” he said.
Speaking on the Ram temple issue, Togadia stated that he congratulated the Sangh chief on the progress of the Ram temple and the construction of the temple has united the Hindu community, which had previously been divided along caste lines.
Addressing his meeting with a senior Union minister, Togadia clarified, “Yes, I attended a Dussehra event where I met him, but the meeting was not political. Since leaving the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, I haven’t engaged with any leader or activist from the government or the organization, but my connections with them go back 40 years. Naturally, when we meet, there’s a lot to discuss.”
This story was originally published in newindianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
