RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh should not be seen as a paramilitary organisation and warned that trying to understand the Sangh by linking it only to the Bharatiya Janata Party would be a serious mistake.
Addressing a gathering of prominent citizens, Bhagwat said that although RSS members wear a uniform, hold marches and perform physical exercises with sticks, the organisation is not paramilitary in nature. “We wear a uniform, we take out marches and we do stick exercises, but if someone thinks the RSS is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake,” he said.
He also said that the RSS should not be judged by looking at the BJP or any other affiliated body. “If you try to understand the Sangh by looking at the BJP, it will be a huge mistake. The same mistake will happen if you try to understand it through organisations like Vidya Bharti,” Bhagwat said. The RSS is widely seen as the ideological parent of the BJP.
Bhagwat said a false narrative has been created around the RSS and blamed shallow sources of information for spreading misconceptions. “Today people do not go deep to understand things. They do not go to the origin. They go to Wikipedia. Everything written there is not true,” he said, adding that those who rely on credible sources will get a clearer picture of the Sangh.
Explaining the role of the RSS, Bhagwat said the organisation works to unite society and build character so that India never again falls under foreign domination. “The Sangh prepares swayamsevaks and gives them values and a sense of purpose to work for the country’s highest glory. But the Sangh does not control them by remote,” he said. According to him, RSS branches focus on creating a patriotic environment rather than competing with or opposing anyone.
Rejecting the idea that the RSS was formed as a reaction to any force, Bhagwat said, “The Sangh is not a reaction to anything and it does not compete with anyone.”
He also spoke about India’s history of invasions and urged people to reflect on why the country was repeatedly defeated despite being rich in culture and values. “People who were not richer or more virtuous than us came from faraway lands and defeated us in our own home. This happened many times. The British were not the first,” he said. He added that political freedom has been achieved, but mental slavery still exists to some extent.
Bhagwat called on people to rise above selfishness and stay united. “If society stands together with the right values and virtues, the future of this country will surely change for the better,” he said.
He also urged people to take pride in Indian traditions, food and devotional practices, and stressed the importance of using locally made products. “To become self reliant, we must first have self pride. Buy and use things made in our own land that provide jobs to our people,” he said. At the same time, he clarified that supporting Swadeshi does not mean cutting off trade with the world, but said imports should be based on need and national interest, not pressure or fear.
Speaking about the organisation’s finances, Bhagwat said the RSS is financially stable and does not depend on external funding. He recalled that the Sangh faced severe opposition and hardship during British rule and even after Independence. “There were attempts to suppress us, attacks were carried out and even assassinations took place. Such pressures still exist, but they are now reducing,” he said.
Concluding his address, Bhagwat invited people to visit an RSS shakha to understand the organisation better. “I can speak for hours about the Sangh, but the best way to understand it is to come and see for yourself. Just like you cannot explain the sweetness of sugar with words, you have to taste it,” he said.
