Soul of India lies in pluralism and tolerance: Pranab Mukherjee at RSS event ending a political untouchability

Hailing the ancient legacy of India, Mukherjee said "intolerance dilutes the idea of nationalism" even as his presence at the RSS event is seen as a historic move that earned the right-wing Hindu organisation, considered a communal and untouchable force by the Congress, a legitimacy and respectability hitherto denied by India's "secular" leaders and political outfits.

Sharing the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he urged everyone to believe in "One India, One identity."

"Pluralism and diversity are our strength. The soul of India lies in pluralism and tolerance," said Mukherjee addressing an annual training camp of the RSS meant for recruits in their third year in the right wing body.

The ex-President said democracy is not a gift but a task.

"In a democracy, informed and reasoned public engagement on all issues of national importance is essential. A dialogue is necessary not only to balance the competing interests but also to reconcile them," said Mukherjee at the event of the RSS, an organisation founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.

"50 years of politics have taught me tolerance. Democracy represents the hope and aspirations of billions," said the veteran politician.

"In my 50 years of public life, as a party activist and lawmakers, I have understood the plurality. It is our composite culture," he added.

Mukherjee also visited the birthplace of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and paid a glowing tribute to him calling him “a great son of Mother India”.

“Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India,” Mukherjee wrote in the visitor’s book.

Mukherjee's acceptance of the RSS invite had earlier triggered a massive row with several Congress leaders including the former President's daughter Sharmistha expressing dismay in public.

Mukherjee's daughter and Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee disagreed with his father's decision to attend an RSS event.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is known to be a close aide of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, tweeted to say,

Though several Congress leaders had reacted to the decision of Mukherjee, it is clear that Mukherjee is eyeing a role independent of his political past since 1969, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha with the support of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

According to media reports, some Congress leaders had urged him to reconsider his decision to attend a function of the saffron outfit which has always been denounced as a communal force by Mukherjee's party and allegedly the former President himself.