RSS leader meets Muslim clerics to harmonise ties - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RRS) senior leader K S Sudarshan met Muslim clerics, including Shi'ite cleric Hamid-ul Hassan on Sunday. Sudarshan's meeting with the Muslim clerics was aimed at harmonizing ties between the two communities and came at a time when a row over the singing of the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" is in the limelight. The Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, an Islamic group, had passed a fatwa last week against the singing of "Vande Matram". Sudarshan said there was nothing wrong in singing a song that respects the motherland. "Now some people have raised the issue that we will not recite Vande Mataram, as it is against Islam. Some clerics of Darul-Uloom have said so. In what way is it embarrassing and wrong if you say something in respect of your country and motherland?" he asked. Hassan said there was nothing wrong in respecting other faiths, adding that the Urdu translation of Vande Mataram is available. "I would like to request to my senior clerics of the country that they should come on a platform and try to understand the true meaning of Vande Mataram.. I can say without any doubt that in all of our religions, prayers are offered of only one god, but paying respect is altogether a different thing," Hassan said.