"Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogmas and religion will only lead to dilution of our national identity", says former President Pranab Mukherjee while delivering his speech at the RSS venue.
Mr. Mukherjee added that intolerance will tarnish India's nationality and this is the soil of all communities including Hindus, Muslims and Christs.
"Secularism is our religion. We gain strength from tolerance. We respect plurality. We celebrate diversity. I came here to share my views with you on nation, nationality and love for the nation", he said.
Earlier Pranab had visited the birthplace of the RSS founder KB Hedgewar and paid homage to the RSS founder.
"Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India," he wrote in the visitor's book.
Meanwhile the Congress leaders slammed Mr. Mukherjee's new move to visit the RSS headquarters and tweeted that a "primer on what the RSS really stands for".
