RSS is not a paramilitary org, Bhagwat says; can't be understood by BJP

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that despite the uniform and physical exercises, the Sangh is not a paramilitary organisation, and it would also be a huge mistake to try to understand it by looking at the BJP. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) works to unite society and imbue it with the necessary qualities and virtues to ensure that India does not fall into the clutches of a foreign power again, he said, addressing a gathering of prominent persons in Bhopal on Friday (January 2, 2026). We wear a uniform, take out marches and do stick exercise. (But) If someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake, he added, making clear the Sangh’s broader purpose beyond politics. Bhagwat urged people not to judge the Sangh by the BJP, saying the same mistake would occur if one tried to understand it through Vidya Bharti, the RSS-affiliated education network. He warned of a false narrative about the Sangh and urged audiences to consult reliable sources to learn about its origins and mission. He explained that the Sangh grooms Swayamsevaks and inculcates values, thoughts and goals to work for Bharat's Param Vaibhav, a vision of absolute glory, but stressed that the Sangh does not control Swayamsevaks remotely. The leader noted that there is a common misconception that the Sangh was born as a reaction to other forces, insisting that its work has always been about nation-building through grassroots branches and voluntary service. Bhagwat's remarks come during a period of heightened scrutiny of the Sangh’s role in Indian public life, with the RSS centenary year cited as a backdrop for clarifying its aims and methods. He urged the public to avoid generalisations and to engage with accurate, origin-based information rather than popular, easily accessible narratives.

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