Senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Muslim community held a dialogue in New Delhi on Friday (January 16, 2026) in which speakers underlined the need for unity, inclusion and peace while discussing sensitive issues such as the politics of hatred and the role of fringe elements in society.
Organised by Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed, founder of the Inter Faith Harmony Foundation of India, the dialogue session at India Islamic Cultural Centre was attended by RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal and the Sangh’s outreach in-charge Ramlal.
Incidentally, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had launched Mr. Ahmed’s book The Meeting of Minds: A Bridging Initiative back in 2021, which dwelled on bridging perceived gaps between Muslims and Hindus.
The Muslim community was represented by former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, retired Lieutenant General Zameeruddin Shah, social activist and political analyst Shalini Ali, social worker Jasim Muhammad, NCPUL director Shams Iqbal, Major Muhammad Shah Ali, among others.
In his address, Mr. Jung expressed concern over a recent speech of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in which he urged the youth in India to “avenge India’s history”. He also raised the issue of denial of bail to activist Umar Khalid, accused in a larger conspiracy case related to the North East Delhi riots in 2020.
