In sharp contrast to Shiv Sena's reaction to the Pakistan cricket team's forthcoming India tour, RSS on Saturday expressed hope that the visitors would get the same amount of love here which the Indians received there.
"The feeling of love and spontaneous brotherhood the Indian cricket team experienced during their visit cannot ever be termed as artificial, neither can we say that it was possibly part of a drama," an editorial in the latest issue of the RSS Hindi organ Panchajanya said.
"When they come to play cricket in India, we hope that overcoming narrow politics, they would experience the same amount of love and affection here which we had received in their country," it said.
In a rare tribute to the common cultural traditions shared by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the editorial also hailed the grand celebration of 'Basant' festival in Pakistan and said, "it is culture alone which binds together hearts and it is the secular Jehadi politics of hate which breaks hearts".
"Whether it is Basant or Baisakh, whether it is Pakistan or Bangladesh, no fundamentalist can stop the flow of generations-old traditions flowing in our hearts, minds and blood. It is these small spots which forms the basis for cordiality and friendship," it said.
{{/usCountry}}"Whether it is Basant or Baisakh, whether it is Pakistan or Bangladesh, no fundamentalist can stop the flow of generations-old traditions flowing in our hearts, minds and blood. It is these small spots which forms the basis for cordiality and friendship," it said.
{{/usCountry}}It said "people who trace their roots to invaders and those who sow the seeds of hatred going against their ancestors, soil and traditions" were responsible for the bitterness between the two countries. It attacked the Communists for being "in the forefront" of such activities.