RSS Not Paramilitary, Not BJP’s Wing: Mohan Bhagwat Rejects Political Label

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has firmly rejected claims that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functions as a paramilitary organisation or operates as an extension of the Bharatiya Janata Party, calling such interpretations misleading and rooted in misinformation.

Addressing a gathering of prominent citizens in New Delhi, Bhagwat said the Sangh must be understood on its own terms and not through the political lens of the BJP or any other organisation associated with it. He emphasised that drawing conclusions about the RSS based on political affiliations results in a distorted understanding of its objectives and character.

“Despite the uniform, marches and physical drills, it is a mistake to call the RSS a paramilitary body,” Bhagwat said. “And it would be an even bigger mistake to understand the Sangh by looking at the BJP. Both approaches are incorrect.”

The RSS, officially founded in 1925, is widely regarded as the ideological parent organisation of the Jana Sangh and later the BJP. However, Bhagwat maintained that the Sangh does not exist to support or oppose any political party. Instead, he said, its purpose is to unite society and instil values that strengthen national character and social cohesion.

Bhagwat also pushed back against what he described as a “false narrative” surrounding the organisation. He said many people rely on surface-level information or unreliable online sources instead of studying the RSS through credible documentation and lived experience.

“People today do not go to the source. They rely on quick searches and hearsay. If one looks at reliable sources and the Sangh’s actual work, the truth becomes clear,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s history, Bhagwat argued that repeated foreign invasions were not merely the result of external strength but internal weakness and social fragmentation. According to him, national security and sovereignty depend on a united society that rises above selfish interests.

“The Sangh was not born as a reaction or opposition to any force,” he said. “It does not compete with anyone. Its aim is to build a society that is disciplined, self-aware and united.”

Bhagwat also addressed questions around the organisation’s funding, stating that the RSS is financially independent and does not rely on external or foreign donations. He noted that the organisation endured financial hardship for decades but now sustains itself through voluntary contributions.

Concluding his address, Bhagwat invited critics and skeptics to visit an RSS shakha to understand the organisation directly rather than relying on interpretations shaped by political debates or social media narratives.

“If someone wants to understand the Sangh, they must experience it,” he said. “Just as sugar cannot be explained in words, it must be tasted.”

The remarks come at a time when the RSS continues to be at the centre of national discourse, often debated in the context of politics, ideology and governance. Bhagwat’s statement seeks to reposition the organisation as a cultural and social movement distinct from electoral politics.