Thank you for your letter dated 18 January 1999 which I have received only now.

It seems that my remarks about the RSS have been misunderstood. There is no question of my endorsing their ideology or giving them a good character certificate. What I meant was that given the reality of the existence of the RSS it would be in the interest of Muslims in our country to continue debating issues with them rather than adopting either a confrontationist position or refuse to engage them in debate. I realise that you and many others firmly believe that the RSS hardliners will never change their anti-minority stance, and you may well be right; however, if the open response of a veteran RSS sanchalak like Madan Lal Khurana to the attacks on Christians is any indication, there may be some hope of others also coming round. My plea is that we should not close our minds to this possibility. Of course, it is a matter for consideration and debate as to how best to conduct a dialogue.

I hope this would clarify my position.

Shahabuddin's Response, 4 March, 1999

I thank you for your DO No. CMS/PS/99/C/02 dated 27 February, 1999 and for clarifying your position on the RSS. I agree that we should not close our mind to the possibility of a change of heart. But institutionally the very raison de'tre of the RSS is the establishment of Hindu Rashtra.

Many of us maintain personal contacts with the RSS sympathisers but we must not take a public position which would have the effect of making its ideology and policy more acceptable to the liberal secular Hindu or of reducing the impact of our united common fight against communal chauvinism.