Shriomani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar slammed Bhagwat saying the RSS chief was insulting the nation by issuing such statements.
"India has multi religion culture. But Bhagwat is hurling insult to nation by issuing vague statements that people living in India are Hindus," Makkar said.
Hitting out at Bhagwat, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "Sikh religion is separate and it will be wrong to say it was an offshoot of Hindu religion."