‘Even Hindu Dharma is not registered’: Mohan Bhagwat says RSS was established in 1925; addresses row

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday addressed criticisms about the organisation's registration status, stating that RSS is officially recognised as a body of individuals, after Congress questioned its operations.

"RSS was established in 1925, so do you expect us to have registered with the British government?" Bhagwat responded during a RSS-organised question and answer session.


He clarified that post-independence, the Government of India did not mandate registration, and RSS is officially categorised and recognised as a body of individuals. Bhagwat further noted that both the Income Tax department and courts have acknowledged RSS as a body of individuals, granting them tax exemption. "We were banned thrice. So government has recognised us. If we were not there, whom did they ban?" Bhagwat pointed out.

He further stated that many entities remain unregistered, citing "Even Hindu Dharma is not registered" as an example.

Addressing allegations about flag preferences, Bhagwat explained that while saffron holds special significance in RSS as a Guru, they maintain deep respect for the Indian tricolour. "We always respect, offer tribute and protect our tricolour," he affirmed.

These statements followed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's recent call for RSS ban. Additionally, his son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge sought prohibition of RSS activities in government institutions and public spaces, questioning their registration details and funding sources.

Support to political parties

Bhagwat addressed various other topic included RSS' political affiliation. On being asked why Sangha does not support any political party, he said, "We do not support any political party. We do not participate in vote politics, current politics, or election politics. Sangha is a work of uniting society and politics, but by nature, it is divisive. So we keep out of politics. We support policies, and especially now that we are a force, we will exert our force to support the right policy. Not individual, not a party, but policy. For example, we wanted to have Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. So our Swayamsevaks supported those who stood by its construction. BJP was there, but if Congress had supported that, our Swayamsevaks would have voted for that party also."

Further asserting his stance, he added, "We don't have special affinity towards one party. There is no Sangh party. No party is ours, and all parties are ours because they are Bharatiya parties. We support Rashtraneeti, not Rajneeti. We do that publicly. We have our views, and we want to take this country in a particular direction. Those who will drive in that direction particularly, we will support them. We'll ask the public to think about this and support them. Whatever the public does, it is their prerogative, but we will exert our strength in favour of the Rashtraneeti we feel proud of."

'Love Jihad, how can that be?' asks RSS chief Bhagwat

Apart from the registration row, Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday also questioned "love Jihad". "Love Jihad, how can that be? A girl or boy reared in our Hindu sanskaars as our own, blood of our blood, is led astray by someone outside due to petty attractions. That is our lack. Giving 'sanskaars' and 'maryada' to our children is our responsibility. We have faltered in it, and the result is the success of Love Jihad... When we see these activities, we bracket the entire Muslim society into one category. That is not good. We are Hindus. We do not think like that," he said.

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