No ‘Remote Control’ Over BJP, VHP or Vidya Bharti: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat firmly asserted on Friday that organizations affiliated with the Sangh, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Vidya Bharti, operate with complete autonomy and are not subject to any form of remote control or direction from the RSS, emphasizing that attempts to view the Sangh through the lens of these entities represent a profound misunderstanding of its fundamental principles and functioning.

Addressing a gathering of prominent citizens in Bhopal, Bhagwat explained that while the RSS meticulously develops Swayamsevaks by instilling core values, ideological frameworks, and a shared commitment to achieving Bharat's "Param Vaibhav" or supreme glory, it deliberately refrains from exerting any control over their actions once they engage in independent organizational roles, allowing groups like the BJP, VHP, and Vidya Bharti to maintain distinct identities, follow their own constitutions, make autonomous decisions, and collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including non-Swayamsevaks.

The RSS leader highlighted the persistence of widespread misinformation and false narratives surrounding the organization since its inception, propagated by both opponents and even some supporters, noting that despite global recognition, true comprehensive understanding of the RSS remains limited, and he stressed its unparalleled uniqueness worldwide, drawing inspiration from Tathagat Buddha, while rejecting comparisons to paramilitary forces despite practices like Path Sanchalan, and clarifying that social service activities, though undertaken, do not solely define the Sangh's broader mission of organizing Hindu society without functioning as a pressure group.

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Bhagwat urged the public to experience the RSS directly rather than relying on external sources like Wikipedia for accurate insights, reflecting on the organization's century-long journey marked by unprecedented opposition from British colonial authorities, post-independence governments, and ongoing pressures including attacks and assassinations, yet affirming that such efforts to suppress the Sangh are diminishing, with its sole motive centered on fostering the absolute glory of Hindu Rashtra through unwavering dedication.

In his address, Bhagwat also advocated for cultural self-confidence and self-reliance, encouraging pride in Indian languages by speaking mother tongues at home and learning regional languages, promoting Swadeshi by prioritizing domestically produced goods to generate employment without isolating from global trade, and emphasizing that true Atmanirbhar Bharat stems from Atma Gaurav, while his two-day visit to Bhopal for RSS centenary activities includes scheduled interactions with women and diverse community members on Saturday.

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