RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat promises to visit Lucknow masjid

Lucknow, Mar 30: Temple visits are routine for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, but he will soon visit a masjid. During a meeting with Shaista Amber, chairperson of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMPWLB), Bhagwat promised he will visit the new masjid in Lucknow built by the Board's chief.

The assurance came during a meeting between the board's chairperson Amber and Bhagwat on the sidelines of a function at Madho Ashram in Mohanlalganj (Lucknow) on Tuesday. "I invited him to visit the Amber Masjid I got constructed near Madhav Ashram," Amber said, adding that Bhagwat accepted the invitation. "He promised to visit the masjid on his next visit to the state capital," she said.

AIMPWLB chairperson feels Bhagwat's visit to a Muslim place of worship will put to rest the allegation that RSS talks only of Hindutva and is against Muslims. "In his address at the event, Bhagwat talked about nation building and other social issues. There was nothing in his speech that a Muslim would find objectionable," she said. "I am sure he will keep his promise the next time he visits Lucknow," Shaista said, adding, "His visit will surely help to do away the misgivings people, particularly Muslims, have about the RSS," she said.

Talking about her association with local functionaries of the RSS, Amber said she has been involved with Madhav Ashram and participated in various events held at the venue for almost two decades. "In 1990s, when top BJP leaders including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani laid the foundation stone of Madho Ashram, local RSS leaders invited me to the event," she said, adding that she has attended several functions since then on the Ashram campus.

She runs Amber Dharamshala where people are provided free food and shelter. "My dharamshala is open to people from all walks of life. I have invited Bhagwat to visit the dharamshala too and see work we have done."