Shakhas open to all who respect saffron flag regardless of religion: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomes all Indians to its shakhas, regardless of religion, as long as they respect national values and cultural unity.

However, he drew a line, stating that those who see themselves as descendants of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb are not welcome.

Bhagwat was responding to a question from an RSS volunteer during a programme in Varanasi, who asked whether Muslim neighbours could be invited to attend shakhas. The RSS chief replied, "Anyone who says 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and respects the saffron flag is welcome. Our ideology does not discriminate based on how one worships."

He emphasised that India's various communities may have different religious practices, but the underlying culture is shared. “The worship methods of Panth, Jaati, and Sampraday may differ, but the culture is one,” he said.

Highlighting the Sangh's long-standing presence, Bhagwat remarked that society has observed and accepted RSS volunteers over time, removing earlier obstacles. “With a long journey, society has tested and accepted Sangh volunteers. This has led to a favourable environment for our work,” he said, adding that while one hour in the Sangh is spent on personal development, the remaining 23 hours are dedicated to societal progress.

In a separate event in Nagpur last week, Bhagwat reflected on historical invasions, stating that India had a tradition of losing battles to foreign aggressors from the time of Alexander. He praised Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a turning point in that history, calling him the first to offer a strong resistance to such invasions under the guise of religion.