Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday strongly criticized recent remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who suggested that India should keep its doors open for dialogue with Pakistan. Sibal termed the statement 'obnoxious' and questioned the political double standards in reacting to such comments.
Sibal's Reaction to Hosabale's Statement
Addressing a press conference, Sibal said that if he had made similar remarks, he would have been immediately labeled 'anti-national' or 'pro-Pakistan'. He highlighted that Hosabale referred to major terror attacks, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama attack, as mere 'pinpricks'.
'What is most obnoxious about this statement is that he calls the attack on Parliament, the 26/11 attack, the Pahalgam attack, as pinpricks. Our sovereignty is attacked and according to the RSS, it is only a pinprick,' Sibal said.
Questioning the Government's Stance
Sibal further questioned the government's alignment with the RSS, noting that Pakistan had welcomed Hosabale's remarks. 'The government functions on his directives. Pakistan has said it is a positive development. So, Mr Hosabale is being equated with India. Who is Hosabale? What kind of politics is this?' he asked.
While advocating for dialogue with Pakistan is not inherently wrong, Sibal argued that the political response should be consistent regardless of who makes the statement. 'If I had said this, I would have been called anti-national or pro-Pakistan. If Mr Hosabale says it then it is right,' he added.
Hosabale's Original Remarks
Earlier this week, in an interview with PTI Videos, Hosabale, who is the second-highest leader in the RSS after chief Mohan Bhagwat, said that India should keep a 'window' open for dialogue with Pakistan despite ongoing tensions and terror attacks. He described Pakistan as a 'pinprick' attempting to create incidents such as Pulwama and Pahalgam, but maintained that diplomatic relations, trade, and people-to-people engagement should continue.
'We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue,' Hosabale had said, arguing that civil society contacts could help reduce tensions between the two countries. He also called on sportspersons, scientists, and civil society groups in Pakistan to step forward for peace, stating that the neighboring country's military leadership 'cannot be trusted'.
Political Implications
Sibal's remarks underscore the ongoing political debate in India over how to approach relations with Pakistan. The RSS leader's comments have drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties, who accuse the government of adopting a softer stance on Pakistan while cracking down on dissent domestically.
The controversy comes at a time when India-Pakistan relations remain strained, with no formal dialogue in place since 2019. The RSS's influence on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has often been a subject of political scrutiny, and Hosabale's statement has reignited discussions about the organization's role in shaping India's foreign policy.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the government will clarify its position on Hosabale's remarks or distance itself from them. The opposition is likely to use the issue to question the government's consistency in dealing with national security matters.
