Mohan Bhagwat’s Clear Message: Don’t View RSS Through the Lens of BJP; the Organization Has No Political Agenda

New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday that the organization has no political agenda and should not be viewed through the lens of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing the ‘RSS 100 Lecture Series’ program in Kolkata as part of the Sangh’s centenary celebrations, Bhagwat said that the RSS should not be understood through narrow or comparative frameworks.

He said, “If you want to understand the Sangh, you have to experience it. Comparisons will lead to misunderstandings. If you consider the Sangh as just another service organization, you are wrong.” Bhagwat added, “Many people tend to understand the Sangh through the perspective of the BJP, which is a huge mistake.”

He said that while many BJP leaders may have their roots in the RSS, the two are separate organizations with different roles. Later, speaking at another event at the Science City Auditorium in Kolkata, he said that the RSS does not engage in politics and has no enemies.

He said that the organization works solely for the welfare, security, and unity of Hindu society. He said, “The Sangh is often misunderstood. Many people know its name but don’t understand its work. The RSS does not operate with a mindset of enmity or conflict.” The Sangh chief said that the main objective of the RSS is to create ‘sajjan’ (morally upright and virtuous individuals) who are inspired by service, values, and national pride, and who contribute to the development of the country.

Bhagwat said that the organization’s growth might affect the interests of some people, leading to opposition, but the Sangh itself does not consider anyone an enemy. Dismissing allegations of the RSS being anti-Muslim, Bhagwat said that such perceptions are based on narratives rather than facts. He said that the Sangh’s work is transparent and anyone can see it. He said, “Those who have come and seen our work have concluded that we are staunch nationalists who work for the protection of Hindus but are not anti-Muslim.” He urged critics to visit the organization and understand it firsthand. The RSS chief said that India will once again become a ‘world leader’ and it is the duty of the RSS to prepare society for that role.

During his address, he called for greater unity within the Hindu community and a return to forgotten cultural and social roots. Referring to Bengal’s heritage, Bhagwat remembered figures like Swami Vivekananda, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He particularly praised Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his role in social reform, stating that the RSS aims to carry forward that legacy of social change.

He said that as part of its centenary celebrations, lectures and discussion sessions are being organized in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to present the truth about the RSS to the public. He urged people to form their opinions based on facts rather than other sources.