Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat is expected to make his first-ever visit to Canada later this year as part of the organisation's efforts to strengthen its global outreach and engage with the Indian diaspora. According to people involved in planning the visit, Bhagwat is scheduled to be in Toronto on August 31 and September 1, although the itinerary has not yet been officially announced.

Sources familiar with the arrangements said Bhagwat will travel to Canada after completing a five-day tour of the United States. The US visit is expected to conclude with a public programme in New York City, following which he will depart for Toronto. During his stay in Canada, Bhagwat is slated to address a public gathering of the Indian diaspora and participate in a series of meetings with community members and local organisers. Those cited declined to be identified as the programme is still in its final planning stages.

Following his engagements in Toronto, Bhagwat is expected to continue his overseas tour with a visit to the United Kingdom. The multi-country itinerary is part of the RSS' broader international outreach strategy aimed at strengthening connections with overseas Indian communities and expanding the organisation's engagement beyond India. Over the years, RSS-affiliated organisations have increased their presence in several countries through cultural, educational and community activities.

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According to one of the organisers, the visit is also intended to address perceptions about the RSS in Western countries, including Canada. "We want to correct the narrative about RSS which is prevalent in the West, including in Canada," the organiser said. The RSS, founded in 1925, describes itself as a cultural organisation committed to nation-building and social service, while critics have often accused it of promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda. The organisation has consistently rejected such allegations.

Bhagwat's proposed visit comes at a time when India-Canada relations have remained under strain following diplomatic tensions over allegations surrounding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. While the RSS chief's visit is not directly linked to government-level diplomacy, it is expected to draw attention from both supporters and critics of the organisation. If the visit proceeds as planned, it will mark Bhagwat's first official engagement in Canada and another step in the RSS' efforts to expand its international footprint through outreach to the global Indian diaspora.

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