Hitting out at Donald Trump for mocking a Sikh man who was ejected from his campaign rally, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit on Wednesday said that there was no difference between the mindset of the U.S. Republican presidential hopeful and that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who want a 'unified, monolithic' society without freedom or diversity.
"Donald Trump's thinking is exactly the same as the RSS. These are the people who cannot tolerate any difference...who want a unified, monolithic society and are against freedom of equality and diversity," Dixit told ANI here.
Asserting that Trump represented one of the most 'orthodox and retrogressive' elements of American society he said that the US has a majority of people who hate anybody 'different'.
"Therefore his comments against the followers of Islam and any other religion are something that can be expected," Dixit added.
Earlier, during one of Trump's campaign rallies in Iowa, a protester sporting a beard and bright-red turban similar to those worn by Sikhs tried to unveil a white sheet with the words "stop hate" when the guards eject him.
"Bye, bye," Trump said sarcastically as the guard pushed the protester toward the exit and as the crowd began whistling. "Goodbye, goodbye."
The capacity crowd then broke into chants of "U.S.A., U.S.A.," before Trump appeared to make a quip about the protester's turban, which was almost the same color as Trump's popular red "Make America Great Again" hats.
"He wasn't wearing one of those hats was he?" Trump said, gesturing to a supporter's hat which eliciting laughter from the crowd.
The barbed jibe was the latest in a string of heated interactions between Trump, his supporters and protesters.
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