BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney has come out in support of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to a historic gurdwara in London, stating that the RSS recognises Sikhism as a distinct religion. He said it is wrong for fringe elements to question the visit.
Vikramjit Sahney Defends Mohan Bhagwat's Gurdwara Visit in London
Sahney expressed his disappointment over the criticism directed at Bhagwat. He described himself as "deeply anguished" by the outrage from a small section of people over the visit.
"He came as a devotee, offered Rumala Sahib, prayed, partook of 'Karah Prasad' and interacted with the management on Sikh history and ethos," Sahney said, describing Bhagwat's actions during the visit.
RSS Position on Sikhism as a Separate Religion
The BJP MP made it clear that the RSS does not view Sikhism as a part of any other faith. According to Sahney, the organisation considers Sikhism a distinct and separate religion.
He pointed to the core teachings of the Sikh gurus to underline his point. The gurus preached 'Sarbat da Bhala' — a prayer for the welfare of all — and welcomed every human being who came to the guru's darbar with faith, he added.
"When Rahul Gandhi visited Sri Darbar Sahib, despi..." — Vikramjit Singh Sahney, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP
Call for Dialogue Over Outrage
Sahney urged people to resolve differences through dialogue rather than outrage. He emphasised that any disagreements should be handled through conversation and mutual understanding, not through public criticism.
His remarks come in response to the backlash Bhagwat's visit has received from certain quarters. Sahney's defence frames the visit as a respectful act of devotion rather than a political statement.
Our Take: A Matter of Faith and Respect
To put it plainly, Sahney's statement cuts through a lot of unnecessary noise. When a public figure visits a place of worship as a devotee — offering prayers and partaking in the rituals — the focus should be on the gesture of respect, not on political point-scoring.
The RSS chief's actions, as described by Sahney, were those of a faithful visitor. He offered Rumala Sahib, prayed, and shared Karah Prasad. These are acts of reverence that any devotee would perform.
The criticism from fringe elements appears to ignore the inclusive nature of Sikh teachings. As Sahney rightly notes, the gurus welcomed everyone who came with faith. Questioning a visit made in that spirit goes against the very ethos of the faith.
In our view, this episode highlights a larger issue — the tendency to view every action through a political lens. Not every visit to a place of worship needs to be a controversy. Sometimes, it is simply what it appears to be: a person of faith paying his respects.
The call for dialogue over outrage is a sensible one. If there are genuine concerns, they should be discussed openly. But manufactured anger over a devotional visit serves no one — it only deepens divisions that need not exist.
