Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that attempting to understand the Sangh by viewing it through the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be a “huge mistake,” stressing that the RSS is a distinct and unique organisation that was not formed as a reaction or opposition to any force.
Bhagwat was speaking at a gathering in Bhopal held as part of the RSS’s centenary celebrations, which are being organised across the country. He is scheduled to address two more sessions on Saturday.
During his address, Bhagwat said the RSS should not be seen as a paramilitary organisation and cautioned against analysing it solely through the lens of the BJP. While the RSS is widely regarded as the parent body of the erstwhile Jana Sangh and its successor, the BJP, he said such associations often lead to misunderstandings.
“If you want 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.
He said the RSS works to unite society and instil values and discipline to ensure that India does not again fall under foreign domination. Addressing perceptions about the organisation’s activities, Bhagwat said that wearing uniforms, conducting marches and performing stick drills do not make the RSS a paramilitary force.
“We wear a uniform, take out marches and do stick exercises. But it would be wrong to think of the Sangh as a paramilitary organisation,” he said, describing the RSS as a unique body.
Bhagwat also claimed that a “false narrative” was being created about the RSS, attributing it to superficial information gathering. He criticised reliance on sources like Wikipedia and urged people to consult authentic and reliable references to understand the organisation.
“People today do not go deep to find the truth. They do not go to the origin. Those who consult reliable sources will know what the Sangh really is,” he said, adding that these misconceptions made it necessary for the RSS leadership to explain its role and purpose, particularly during the centenary year.
Rejecting the notion that the RSS was founded in opposition to existing forces, Bhagwat said, “There is a common belief that the Sangh was born as a reaction or opposition. This is incorrect. The Sangh is not a reaction to anything, nor is it competing with anyone.”
Speaking on economic self-reliance, Bhagwat also advocated the use of Swadeshi products, linking self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) with self-pride (Atma Gaurav).
“Buy and use goods made in your own land that provide employment to your people. Being Swadeshi does not mean cutting off trade with the world, but importing only essentials such as medicines that are not manufactured in India,” he said.
He added that trade should never be conducted under pressure or fear of tariffs and should take place strictly on India’s own terms.
