TOGADIA ADVOCATES HINDU UNITY AFTER REUNITING WITH RSS

Firebrand Hindutva leader Dr Pravin Togadia who resigned from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), back in 2018 after his relationship with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi soured, made a surprising visit to the RSS headquarters on October 12 after a six-year long wait.

- SAURABH SHARMA

During his meeting with RSS supremo Dr Mohan Bhagwat, he had a long discussion on Hindu unity, construction of Ram Mandir, the way ahead and the plight of Hindus abroad. Togadia, who is professionally a cancer surgeon based in Ahmedabad and a former Swayamsevak, said, "I met Dr Bhagwat after almost seven years. The last time we met was way back in 2017. After my resignation as the international working president of VHP, I founded the Antar Rashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) for the welfare and safety of Hindus." On the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and others, he said, "No one can deny the fact that Hindus are still being targeted and persecuted. We are seeing what is happening in Bangladesh. Time has come now to unite all the local Hindus there and to put pressure on the government through democratic means for the welfare and safety of all Hindus." He also said that they also discussed the division of the Hindu society on the caste lines. Togadia said that the Ram Mandir movement was an important part of uniting Hindus across the caste lines. And because of "that Hindu unity, the BJP came to power twice, that too with a majority." However, in 2024, BJP failed to secure a m