The BRICS Times
At a recent event, the RSS chief stated that the Sangh is not a paramilitary group. He emphasized that judging the RSS by the BJP’s actions is a misunderstanding.
RSS and BJP are different: Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, made a significant statement on Friday. He said viewing the Sangh through the BJP’s lens would be a “huge mistake.” He described the RSS as a unique body. It did not start as a reaction to any other group.
Bhagwat was speaking in Bhopal during the Sangh’s centenary celebrations. These events are happening all across India right now. He will also lead two more sessions on Saturday.
Misconceptions about the organization
During the talk, he clarified that the RSS is not a paramilitary force. He warned against using the BJP as a scale to measure the Sangh. People often call the RSS the parent body of the BJP.
“If you want to understand the Sangh by looking at the BJP, it will be a huge mistake. The same mistake will happen if you try to understand it by looking at Vidya Bharti,” the news agency PTI quoted him.
The Sangh aims to unite society and build discipline. This helps ensure India never faces foreign rule again.
Not a paramilitary group
“We wear a uniform, march, and practice with sticks. But if someone thinks it is a paramilitary organization, it will be a mistake,” he said. He insisted the Sangh is one of a kind.
Bhagwat also mentioned that some people spread “false narratives” about the RSS. He noticed that many people do not look for the truth. Instead, they rely on sites like Wikipedia, which may have errors. He urged people to check reliable sources to know the Sangh. These misunderstandings make it necessary to explain the RSS’s true mission.
A unique foundation
“There is a common feeling that the Sangh was born as a reaction or opposition to the prevailing forces. This is not the case. The Sangh is not a reaction or opposition to anything. The Sangh is not competing with anyone either,” the RSS chief explained.
Focus on Swadeshi goods
He also spoke about using local products. He said that to “become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant), you need to have Atma Gaurav (self-pride).”
“Only buy and use what is made in your land and which provides employment to people of your country. However, being Swadeshi does not mean that you cut trade with the world. Import only essentials such as medicines that are not produced in India,” he advised. He added that India should trade on its own terms, not under pressure.
Akshay Didwaniya
