Mohan Bhagwat: RSS backs policy, not parties—doors open only to BJP
Mohan Bhagwat: RSS backs policy, not parties—doors open only to BJP
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says the organization supports policies, not political parties, with Sangh members mostly barred from entering politics except for the BJP.
In Bengaluru, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat reiterated that the organization operates on policy, not political party lines, and that the doors to politics are largely closed for its swayamsevaks, with the Bharatiya Janata Party being the only open route. He emphasized that the RSS does not constitute a party and does not compel members to join any particular political outfit. “We don’t have a special affinity towards one party. There is no Sangh party. No party is ours and all parties are ours because they are Indian parties,” Bhagwat said, framing the RSS as a policy-driven body rather than a political faction.
Bhagwat cited the Ram Mandir movement as a clear example of the RSS supporting policies rather than endorsing a single political actor. He noted that RSS volunteers supported the initiative, and he argued that if Congress or any other party had backed the Ram Mandir project, the RSS would have supported them as well, underscoring the Sangh’s policy-centric approach.
Addressing the political dynamics, Bhagwat asserted that “the doors of all parties, except the BJP, are closed for a Swayamsevak,” recounting experiences where parties pushed away individuals with Sangh associations. He recalled exchanges where some parties questioned Sangh involvement while others warned against members entering their ranks unless they severed ties with the Sangh.
In Bengaluru, Bhagwat also touched on historical critiques of the RSS, claiming the organization faced bans in the past and that government recognition followed these challenges. He used such points to defend the RSS’s legal standing as a body of individuals rather than a registered political entity. He also addressed social concerns, noting discussion around Love Jihad and cautioning against sweeping generalizations about any community, while stressing the need to impart Hindu values to children.
The remarks were delivered during the event titled “100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons,” highlighting the RSS’s long-standing self-perception as a policy-focused organization with a national cultural vision, rather than a political party in competition with others.
Cover image source: ‘Even Hindu dharma is not registered’: Mohan Bhagwat on RSS legal status, cites bans to say ‘govt recognised us’ 🔗
