Ahmedabad: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan today (Feb 8, 2004) urged Muslims "not to be offended" by the demolition of the Babri Masjid and asked them to see the disputed structure "as a symbol of slavery, which was not built with any religious intention".

"It was the wish of the people-led by VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), to demolish the Babri Masjid because it was not built with any religious intention, but as a symbol of slavery as it was built over a temple, which was destroyed and made way for the Masjid," he said while addressing a gathering at the Kankaria Football ground in Maninagar area in Ahmedabad.

Criticising political parties for misusing Dalits and other backward classes for electoral gains, the Sangh leader urged people to refrain from being prey to the sectarian divide policy that was preached by the British and was still being imbibed by those interested in conversions.

"Politicians cannot bridge this divide that has occurred among communities and only social and religious leaders can do it. They (politicians) have only used it to lure and strengthen their vote bank for selfish gains," he said.

"Politicians when on one platform will say do not treat the Dalits as downtrodden and on another platform will seek votes in the name of development of Dalits and backward casts," the RSS chief said.