The chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, claimed on Sunday that the organization maintains political neutrality, supporting policies over any specific party or individual. However, he admitted that almost all political doors, save one, are closed to its members who wish to enter politics, suggesting that the BJP is the only viable option for a Swayamsevak.
Bhagwat made these statements while addressing the ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons’ event in Bengaluru.
🚪 Why Swayamsevaks Turn to the BJP
Bhagwat acknowledged the widespread perception of the RSS as the ideological parent of the BJP, yet insisted on the Sangh’s independence. He explained the current political reality for his members:
- No “Sangh Party”: “We don’t have a special affinity towards one party. There is no Sangh party. No party is ours and all parties are ours because they are Indian parties,” he said.
- Closed Doors: He alleged that other major political parties have imposed a de facto ban on RSS members. “One party says, ‘oh you are RSS wallah, get out. We don’t want you here’. Another party says ‘no, we have resolved not to let anybody enter in our party unless he forgoes his relationship with the Sangh.'”
- Seeking Refuge: Due to this resistance, Bhagwat concluded, “So every door is closed for a Swayamsevak. The only open door, he seeks refuge there — he goes to the BJP.”
📜 Focus on Right Policy, Not People
The RSS chief clarified the organization’s political stance, stating it focuses its efforts on promoting the greater good through policy:
“We will exert our force to support the right policy, not an individual, not a party, but policy.”
He offered the Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya as a key example. He noted that Sangh volunteers supported the movement, and the organization stood firmly by its construction. “So, the BJP was there (to support it). If Congress or any other party had supported it, we would have supported them as well,” Bhagwat remarked.
🕰️ The History of Dual Membership
Bhagwat’s comments revive the long-standing debate over the dual membership of RSS members in politics.
This issue was central to the collapse of the Janata Party government in 1979. The Janata Party—which formed the first non-Congress government in independent India in 1977 through a merger of various factions—faced internal disputes over members of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (the precursor to the BJP) retaining their deep-rooted RSS identity after the merger.