Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday (November 09, 2025) that the Sangh is not a supporter of any political party. He only supports policies, not parties. Speaking at an event on completion of 100 years of RSS in Bengaluru, he said that if Congress had stood in favor of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the volunteers would have voted for Congress also. He answered in detail on many issues including the participation of Muslims in RSS, the organization not being registered and Congress’s criticisms on the tricolor.
Sangh does not take part in electoral politics: Bhagwat
Bhagwat said that RSS does not take part in electoral politics nor does it support any political party. He said, ‘We do not support any party. We don’t do politics, we support policy. There was a demand for Ram temple in Ayodhya, so the volunteers went in favor of those parties which were in support of it. If Congress had supported, they would have voted for Congress.
‘Muslims and Christians can also come, but…’: RSS Chief
On the question asked about Muslims joining RSS, Bhagwat said that there is no restriction on the basis of caste, religion or creed in the Sangh. He said, ‘Neither any Brahmin is allowed to come separately, nor any Muslim or Christian is stopped. Whoever comes, should come as a son of Mother India. Both Muslims and Christians come to our shakha, but we do not ask who is who.
Why is there no registration of RSS?
Recently Congress leaders raised the question why RSS is not a registered organization. On this, Bhagwat said, ‘When the Sangh started in 1925, would we have registered with the British Government? Even after independence, registration is not mandatory under law. We also get legal recognition as ‘body of individuals’ and we fall in the same category.
He said that the Sangh was banned thrice, which proves that the government considers it a ‘recognised organisation’, otherwise how could it have been banned? He said that every time the courts canceled the ban. Therefore the association is neither illegal nor unconstitutional and we do not need registration.
RSS counterattacks after Kharge’s statement
These statements of Bhagwat have come after the recent allegations of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge had said last month that his ‘personal opinion’ was that RSS should be banned. Many Congress leaders, including Kharge’s son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, had recently made scathing attacks on the RSS. Bhagwat said that as the opposition increases, the Sangh becomes stronger.
RSS’s opinion on tricolor
Congress often alleges that RSS does not believe in the tricolor. On this Bhagwat said that this perception is wrong. He said, ‘The organization adopted its saffron flag in 1925. The national flag was decided in 1933. At that time the Flag Committee had also recommended the traditional saffron colour, but on the suggestion of Gandhiji, a three-coloured flag was made. Bhagwat said that RSS has always respected the tricolor. ‘Congress has its own flag, Communist Party has a red flag, Republican Party has a blue flag. Similarly, we have a saffron flag, but our respect for the national flag has always remained firm.
