RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses during the inauguration ceremony of Sanskrit Bharati’s central office, in New Delhi on April 20, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Bardhaman:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday emphasised the importance of uniting Hindu society, calling it the country’s “responsible” community and stating that it views unity as an embodiment of diversity.

Addressing an RSS programme at SAI Ground in Bardhaman, he said, “People often ask why we focus only on Hindu society, and my answer is that the country’s responsible society is Hindu society.” “Today is not a special event. Those unaware of the Sangh often wonder what it wants. If I had to answer, I would say the Sangh seeks to organise Hindu society because it is the responsible society of the country,” Bhagwat said.

He also stressed the importance of accepting the world’s diversity.

“Bharatvarsha is not just a geographical entity; its size may expand or shrink over time. It is called Bharatvarsha when it embodies a unique nature. Bharat has its intrinsic character. Those who felt they could not live in harmony with this nature created their own separate countries,” he said.

“Naturally, those who remained wanted Bharat’s essence to endure. And what is this essence? It is much older than August 15, 1947. It is Hindu society, which flourishes by embracing the world’s diversity. This nature accepts and moves forward with the world’s diversities. There is one eternal truth that never changes,” he added.

He underscored that the foundation of Hindu society rests on its ability to embrace diversity, a principle encapsulated in the Sanskrit phrase ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).

“We say ‘unity in diversity,’ but Hindu society understands that diversity itself is unity,” the RSS chief added.

“What does the Sangh want to do? If this question has to be answered in a sentence, then the Sangh wants to unite the entire Hindu society. Why unite the Hindu society? Because the society responsible for this country is the Hindu society…Bharat has a nature, and those who thought they could not live with that nature, they made their own separate country…Hindus move forward by accepting the diversity of the world…”, he added.

Bhagwat said in India, no one remembers the emperors and maharajas, but instead remembers a king who went into exile for 14 years to fulfil his father’s promise – an apparent reference to Lord Ram, and the person who placed his brother’s sandals on the throne, and who handed over the kingdom upon his return.

“These characteristics define India. Those who follow these values are Hindus and they keep the diversity of the entire country united,” he explained.

Reiterating the need for Hindu unity, Bhagwat said even in good times, challenges will arise.

“The nature of the problem is irrelevant; what matters is how prepared we are to face them,” he added.

The rally was held after the Calcutta High Court approved it after the Bengal police initially refused permission.

Speaking on historical invasions dating back to Alexander, Bhagwat noted that “a handful of barbarians, who were not superior in virtue, ruled over India, “attributing it to internal betrayal within society”.

The RSS chief emphasised that societal participation is necessary to change the destiny of a nation.

He emphasised that India was not created by the British and argued that the notion of India being disunited was instilled in people by them.

He remarked, “Even Mahatma Gandhi had once said that it was the British who tried to teach us that they created India, and he had said that this was wrong. India has existed for centuries – diverse, yet united. All those who live in this country believe in this idea of unity in diversity. Today, if we talk about this, we are accused of talking about Hindutva.” As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marks a century since its inception in 1925, Bhagwat addressed a gathering, reflecting on the organisation’s journey and purpose.

“Sangh is a big organisation spread across the country with about 70,000 shakhas,” Bhagwat said, acknowledging the sheer scale of the RSS.

“We are called the biggest organisation in the world. But why do we want to grow? Not for our own sake. Even if our name is not there, it does not matter, but if society is united, it will help the country and the world.” He reiterated that the core mission of the RSS is to bring people together.

“The only task for the RSS is to unite society,” he said, urging people to engage with the organisation firsthand.

“My appeal is to understand Sangh, come within its fold. There is no fee for this. No membership is required. You can come here at your will and leave if you do not like,” he assured.

Bhagwat acknowledged that understanding the RSS takes time, as its only goal is uniting the entire “Hindu samaj” (Hindu society) to develop “atmiyata”, a close emotional bond.

He encouraged individuals to interact with the organisation directly rather than forming opinions from a distance.

“Mistakes and misunderstandings develop when people try to understand the organisation from a distance. Come in close contact with the Sangh, see it for yourself,” he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comment Thursday about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement – that the consecration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya last year marks “the true independence of Bharat” – drew an immediate response from the union government.

Junior Education Minister Sukunta Majumdar called the Trinamool Congress leader an “anti-national Chief Minister” and pointed to claims from September last year – that Ms Banerjee refused to give land for the Border Security Force to build a fence along the Bangladesh border.

Earlier today Ms Banerjee, a fierce and vocal critic of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticised the remarks by Bhagwat – whose group is seen as an ideological mentor to the BJP – as “an attempt to distort history.

“This is anti-national. I strongly condemn this dangerous remark… it should be withdrawn. This is an attempt to distort history. We are dedicated to keeping our independence intact (and) ready to sacrifice our lives for India…but not to tolerate this,” she told reporters in Kolkata.

Ms Banerjee isn’t the only senior opposition leader to have slammed Bhagwat.

At the opening of the Congress’ new Delhi office on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said the comment would have gotten the RSS chief arrested had it been said in any other country.

“… the chief of the RSS said India never achieved independence in 1947. He said true independence was achieved when the Ram Temple was built…” Mr Gandhi said.

READ | “Would Be Arrested In Another Country”: Rahul Gandhi Slams Bhagwat

“To say India did not get independence in 1947 is an insult to every single Indian, and it is about time we stop listening to this nonsense…” Mr Gandhi raged in an all-out attack on the BJP.

In his attack Mr Gandhi also accused the RSS and BJP of having “captured every single institution of our country”, and that his party is “now fighting… the Indian State itself”.

The Congress leader’s comment provoked a counterattack from the BJP, which sought to flip the narrative by accusing Mr Gandhi and his party of having “close links with urban Naxals and the Deep State (which) wants to defame, demean, and discredit India”.

“The Congress has a history of encouraging forces that want a weak India. Their greed for power meant compromising the nation’s integrity and betraying the trust of the people. But the people of India… decided they will always reject this rotten ideology,” BJP chief JP Nadda said.

The row erupted after Bhagwat’s comment Monday at an RSS event in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.

With input from agencies

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Indore:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said the date of consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya should be celebrated as “Pratishtha Dwadashi” as the “true independence” of Bharat, which faced “parachakra” (enemy attack) for several centuries, was established on this day.

An idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the grand Ayodhya temple on January 22, 2024, in a landmark event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, as per the Hindu lunar calendar, the consecration ceremony completed one year on January 11, 2025.

Bhagwat asserted that the Ram temple movement was not started to oppose anyone.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief insisted this movement was started to awaken the “self” (swa) of Bharat so that the country could stand on its own feet and show the path to the world.

He was speaking after presenting the “National Devi Ahilya Award” to Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, in Indore.

Bhagwat pointed out there was no discord in the country during the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya last year.

After receiving the award, Rai declared he is dedicating this honour to all known and unknown people of the Ram Mandir movement who helped in building the grand Ram temple in the Uttar Pradesh town.

Referring to different phases of struggles faced by the movement, Rai said the temple was a symbol of “Hindustan ki Moonchh (moustache)” (the national pride) and he was just a medium for its construction.

The prestigious award is given every year by the Indore-based social organization, “Shri Ahilyotsav Samiti”, to prominent persons in recognition of their contribution in different social spheres.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is the president of this organization.

Addressing the gathering, Mahajan said a grand memorial dedicated to Devi Ahilyabai, the iconic ruler of the former Holkar dynasty of Indore, will be built in the city so that people become familiar with her life character.

Over the years, the National Devi Ahilya Award has been given to well-known personalities like Nanaji Deshmukh, Vijaya Raje Scindia, Raghunath Anant Mashelkar and Sudha Murty. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indore:

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) does not train its cadres to use the ‘lathi’ or stick for fighting or public display, but because it instills bravery and teaches one to be steadfast, the organisation’s chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Friday.

“A person who wields the lathi develops ‘veer vritthi’ (sense of bravery) and he is not afraid. The lathi training teaches steadfastness in crises and inspires one to walk on the path with resolve, patience and unwavering strength,” the RSS chief asserted.

Mr Bhagwat was speaking at the ‘Swar Shatak Malwa’ programme in Indore city where 870 Sangh volunteers played traditional musical instruments in a group performance.

Indian and traditional music teaches harmony, goodwill and discipline, and frees one of useless attractions, leading the person to the righteous path, he further said.

While music from other parts of the world excites the mind and makes it joyful, Indian music brings joy by calming the mind, Mr Bhagwat observed.

“Listening to Indian music redeems a person from worldly attractions and develops a tendency to do good deeds, which brings joy in abundance. Indian music and traditional music teaches harmony and discipline and co-existence,” he added.

The RSS chief said Sangh volunteers, inspired by patriotism, have composed traditional tunes and martial music using different instruments, and the idea behind this endeavour was to ensure that the country does not lack the art the rest of the world possesses.

“Our Bharat is not a backward or poor country. We can sit in the front row in the congregation of the world’s nations, and tell them we have varied arts,” he said.

He also urged people to join RSS workers in the campaign to build “a new nation.” The RSS will complete 100 years of its foundation in 2025.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Amid the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign for the Delhi Election, party convener Arvind Kejriwal has shot off a letter to Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of BJP’s ideological parent RSS, and asked several questions on the BJP’s politics.

Mr Kejriwal has asked if the RSS supports the BJP’s “wrongdoings”. “BJP leaders are openly distributing money, does RSS support buying votes? The names of Dalit and Purvanchali voters are being struck off (from voter lists) on a large scale. Does RSS think this is good for democracy? Doesn’t RSS feel that the BJP is weakening democracy?” Mr Kejriwal has asked.

The letter is clearly aimed at embarrassing the BJP amid a bitter campaign for the capital contest. While AAP has alleged that the BJP is getting voters’ names struck off the list in a desperate attempt to win the election, the BJP has accused the ruling party of getting fake voters’ names added to the list to bolster its support.

The BJP responded sharply to Mr Kejriwal’s letter with a letter. State BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, “Today, I have written a letter to Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal…we hope that you will abandon your wrong habits of lying and deceit and bring meaningful change within yourself.”

BJP’s Sudhanshu Trivedi said Mr Kejriwal’s letter to the RSS chief is an attempt to grab “media attention”. “Don’t write to the Sangh (RSS), learn from it. Learn the spirit of service, leave behind your political moves,” the Rajya MP said.

In an interaction with the media on Sunday, Mr Kejriwal said the BJP has neither vision nor candidates for the Delhi election. “BJP wants to win this election somehow by using dishonest means. But the people of Delhi won’t let this happen. We won’t let them win by using the tactics they are said to have used in Maharashtra and Haryana,” he said, asking Delhiites to keep checking names on voter lists.

The AAP leader alleged that the BJP had launched “Operation Lotus” in the New Delhi constituency that he represents. “In 15 days, they have put in applications to delete names of 5,000 voters and also applied for the addition of 7,500 names to the voter list. The total votes in my constituency is 1 lakh 6 thousand. What is the point of holding an election then? A game is playing out in the name of election.”

The AAP leader said a summary revision was carried out earlier and the Election Commission released a revised voter list on October 29. “If there is a 12 per cent difference as the BJP claims, was the poll body’s summary revision wrong?”

Mr Kejriwal alleged that the BJP plans to get people from outside and register them as Delhi voters.

Refuting the charges, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said the number of voters in Delhi saw a huge jump between the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the Assembly election next year. The same, he said, was observed after the 2019 general election. “Who got these new voters? There are no answers. They are trying to play the same game this time. BJP is saying those who don’t live in Delhi anymore, those who have died, why should their names be on the list?”

The BJP leader alleged that fake documents were being used to get fake voters’ names on the list.

Mr Kejriwal also warned officers against committing irregularities at the BJP’s behest. “I want to tell the officers, you will be pressured to commit wrong acts but remember, you will sign the papers and these signatures will stay. Today or tomorrow, the government will change, but the files and signatures will stay. Work as per law, you will be in trouble. The ones who are giving the orders would escape.” 

The AAP leader had written to Mr Bhagwat in September too, asking asking five questions related to the BJP and its leadership. The letter raised questions on Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions and the NDA government’s alleged misuse of central agencies to target political rivals.

New Delhi:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been criticised by a prominent spiritual leader over his recent remark against raking up temple-mosque disputes. “Mohan Bhagwat does not understand the plight of Hindus,” said Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Wednesday.

“Several Hindu temples are being demolished. This is the truth. He is not feeling the pain of Hindus. It is clear from his statement. He does not truly understand the plight of Hindus,” he said.

The RSS chief had on December 19 expressed concern over the resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes and asserted that certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya’s Ram temple, seem to believe they can become “leaders of Hindus” by raking up such issues.

“Mohan Bhagwat has claimed that some people raise these issues to become leaders, but I want to clarify that ordinary Hindus do not aspire to become leaders,” Swami Avimukteshwaranand said.

Mr Bhagwat, delivering a lecture in Pune on ‘India-The Vishwaguru,’ at Sahjeevan Vyakhyanmala (lecture series), advocated for an “inclusive society.”

“Raking up new issues every day for disdain and enmity should not be done. What is the solution here? We should show the world that we can live in harmony, so we should have a little experiment in our country,” he had said.

His comments also sparked a political controversy with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav saying that the RSS chief must make his appeal for “harmony” to the BJP. “If he even makes a call to the chief minister (Yogi Adityanath), then there will be no survey and no such controversy,” Mr Yadav said.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh slammed Mr Bhagwat’s statement and termed it as “double standards”.

Uttar Pradesh has witnessed several litigations filed in various courts related to temple-mosque disputes from Sambhal’s Shahi Jama to Budaun’s Jama Masjid Shamsi, Atala Masjid in Jaunpur and Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, where Hindu petitioners have sought permission to offer prayers, claiming that ancient temples existed at the sites where the mosques now stand.

Recently, clashes between protestors and police over the court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal resulted in five deaths in November. Dozens were injured in the violence that also triggered a massive political row. The issue also reached the Supreme Court, which halted survey action and directed the mosque’s management committee to approach the Allahabad High Court.

Ajmer:

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ajmer Dargah, Syed Zainul Abidin Ali Khan, the Sajjada Nasheen of the Dargah, said on Thursday that anyone can file a petition for “publicity” and “personal interest.” He cited the example of the November 24 Sambhal stone-pelting incident in Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the deaths of four people.

This comes after a Rajasthan court accepted a petition submitted by the Hindu Sena claiming Ajmer Sharif Dargah to be Lord Shiva’s temple.

“…Anyone can go to the court. And the court will entertain it (petition). There will be proper evidence, and the proof will be submitted. Then the final verdict will be passed. There is a long way to go,” Syed Zainul Abidin Ali Khan told ANI.

On a query regarding why the Dargah’s (shrine) are turning out to be the targets, he said, “It is their personal interest. Anyone can do it for publicity. You can’t forbade anyone.”

On the recent claims to mosques across the country, the Ajmer Dargah chief said, “What did (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat say in 2022? ‘How long will you look for a shivling in every mosque’? Same was done inside Sambhal. The consequences were that five innocent people lost their lives. Out of the five dead, two were the lone breadwinners.”

“How big is this setback (to their families)? They (authorities) do not have any remorse for it,” he said.

Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Owaisi questioned the conduct of lower courts, implying that the Places of Worship Act was being ignored.

The governance of Modi and RSS was weakening the brotherhood and rule of law in the country, he said, adding that they will have to answer for this.

“We have seen in Sambhal that five people lost their lives. This is not in favour of the country. The governance of Modi and RSS is weakening the country, brotherhood, and rule of law. They will have to answer this. All this is being done on the directions of BJP-RSS,” Owaisi said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a local court in Ajmer directed that notice be issued to three parties in a civil suit that claims that there is a Shiva temple in the dargah of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, the plaintiff’s advocate said.

Advocate Yogesh Siroja told reporters in Ajmer that the suit was heard in the court of Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel.

“The concerned parties have been issued notices; one is the Dargah Committee, the ASI, and the third is the Ministry of Minority Affairs. I am a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty, but I have not been made party to it… We are in touch with our legal team,” he said.

Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, criticised the rise in incidents where various groups are staking claim to mosques and dargahs.

“These incidents are on the rise in the country. Every second day we see groups claiming mosques and dargahs. This is not in the interest of our society and country. Today, India is becoming a global power. Till when will we remain stuck in the temple and mosque controversy?” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India has its own ‘pran shakti’ but it is not visible to many due to 500 years of ‘sanskar’ deeply embedded in their consciousness, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday.

Addressing an event here, he said it is the ‘praan shakti’ (life force) of India which makes it “rush” to extend its help if there is a crisis in any part of the world, without considering whether the country, facing such a situation, is hostile or friendly.

“India also has a ‘praan shakti’ which is in front of our eyes but it is not visible because 500 years of ‘sanskar’ is deeply embedded in us,” he said as he exhorted people to follow the Indian spiritual practices to realise their ‘praan shakti’ and that of the country.

India’s ‘praan shakti’ “appears in the common man and in small things. It appeared surprisingly on January 22,” he said in a veiled reference to the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya that took place on January 22 this year.

The event was organised on the premises of the Delhi University to launch a book ‘Banayein Jivan Pranvaan’, authored by a senior RSS functionary Mukul Kanitkar.

According to the organiser of the event, the book takes the readers on a journey to unravel the scientific and philosophical underpinnings of Bharatiya traditions. It highlights the profound interconnectedness of life, thought and action, emphasizing the significance of understanding “praan” — the life force that forms the foundation of all physical, mental and emotional phenomena.

Appreciating the book’s publication, Mr Bhagwat said there is no conflict between spirituality and science.

“Know and then believe…There is no place for blind faith”, he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday stated that there is no conflict between spirituality and science, as both fields require a sense of faith to achieve justice.

Mohan Bhagwat, along with Swami Avadheshanand Giri, launched the book ‘Banayen Jeevan Praanwaan’ authored by RSS Pracharak Mukul Kanitkar.

Speaking at the event, Bhagwat said, “For the past 2,000 years, the world has been influenced by arrogance. Humanity has believed that knowledge acquired through sensory perception is the only truth, particularly since the advent of modern science. However, this perspective is incomplete. Science has its limits, and it is erroneous to assume that nothing exists beyond its scope.”

He highlighted the unique characteristic of Indian Sanatan culture, which involves introspection while observing the external world.

“By delving deeply into inner experiences, we have discovered life’s truths. There is no reason for conflict between this approach and science. Spirituality also adheres to the principle of ‘know before you believe,’ though its methods differ. In spirituality, the tool is the mind, whose energy stems from prana (life force). The stronger this life force, the more capable one becomes of progressing on the spiritual path,” Mr Bhagwat explained.

He further remarked, “Every particle possesses consciousness and is therefore pure. This understanding has allowed us to offer a holistic vision of life. Today, the world also requires such a perspective. It is our responsibility to provide it, and we are fully capable of doing so.”

Mr Bhagwat stressed the significance of tapas (spiritual discipline), asserting that it is essential on both national and individual levels.

“Whether at the national or personal level, tapas is necessary. At its root lies praan shakti (life force). India possesses a unique praan shakti that exists before our eyes, though we often fail to recognise it. This life force is present in every individual and every aspect of existence. It was evident on January 22, the day of the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir. Whenever the world faces a crisis, India responds swiftly, whether the nation in question is a friend or an adversary. This is not a coincidence. The praan driving India’s consciousness is visible, and it forms the identity of our nation,” Mr Bhagwat concluded.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)