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RSS Cannot Be Understood Through BJP, Says Mohan Bhagwat; Calls It a ‘Huge Mistake’
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that attempting to understand the RSS by viewing it through the prism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be a “huge mistake”, asserting that the Sangh is a unique organisation that was neither formed as a reaction nor in opposition to any force.
Bhagwat made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Bhopal as part of the RSS’ centenary celebrations being organised across the country. He is also scheduled to address two more sessions on Saturday.
RSS Is Not a Paramilitary Organisation: Bhagwat
Stressing that the RSS should not be viewed through a political lens, Bhagwat said it would be incorrect to describe the organisation as paramilitary or to judge it based on its affiliates, including the BJP or Vidya Bharti.
“If you try to understand the Sangh by looking at the BJP, it will be a huge mistake. The same mistake will occur if you try to understand it by looking at Vidya Bharti,” Bhagwat was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
While the RSS is widely regarded as the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and its successor, the BJP, Bhagwat emphasised that the organisation’s role extends beyond politics. He said the Sangh works to unite society, instil discipline and values, and ensure that India does not again fall under foreign domination.
“We wear a uniform, conduct marches and perform stick exercises. But if someone believes this makes the RSS a paramilitary organisation, that too is a mistake,” he said, describing the Sangh as a one-of-a-kind institution.
‘False Narrative’ Being Created Around RSS
Bhagwat also alleged that a “false narrative” was being propagated about the RSS due to superficial understanding and misinformation.
“People today do not go deep to find accurate information. They do not go to the source and instead rely on platforms like Wikipedia, where everything is not necessarily true,” he said, adding that those who consult credible sources would better understand the Sangh’s origins and purpose.
He noted that such misconceptions had made it necessary for RSS leaders to explain the organisation’s ideology and objectives during its centenary year.
“There is a common belief that the Sangh was born as a reaction or opposition to prevailing forces. This is incorrect. The RSS is not a reaction, not an opposition, and not in competition with anyone,” Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat Pushes for Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar Bharat
The RSS chief also pitched for the use of Swadeshi products, linking self-reliance with national pride.
“To become truly ‘Atmanirbhar’, one must have ‘Atma Gaurav’. Use goods made in your own land that generate employment for your people,” Bhagwat said.
However, he clarified that Swadeshi does not mean cutting off trade with the world, adding that essential imports such as medicines not produced in India should continue.
Bhagwat further stated that trade should never be conducted under fear or external pressure, including tariffs, and must always be guided by India’s own interests.
