3-child policy, Modi retirement, BJP–RSS ties: What Mohan Bhagwat said at centenary celebration

New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday sought to project a benign and modern image of the organisation during its centenary celebrations.

He asserted that Islam will always have a place in India and dismissed speculation about a rift with the BJP. “It’s completely wrong to say the RSS decides everything for the BJP. The party has its own expertise, just as we run our shakhas,” Bhagwat said, responding to a question on the selection of the BJP president.

“Hindus are insecure due to a lack of confidence. No Hindu thinks there will be no Islam. We are one nation first... The RSS doesn’t believe in attacking anyone, including on religious lines,” he added.

Bhagwat also spoke on a wide range of issues, from Manusmriti and caste to Artificial Intelligence, trade tariffs and patriotism.

Age is just a number?
“I never said that I or someone else should retire at 75,” he clarified, rejecting speculation that he had hinted Prime Minister Narendra Modi or he himself should step down after turning 75 this September.

Bhagwat said the RSS only gives suggestions to the BJP but does not interfere in governance. “We know how to run shakhas, BJP knows how to run the government,” he remarked, underlining that the Sangh has no role in choosing party leaders.

On calls for Ayodhya-style campaigns in Kashi and Mathura, he said the Ram Temple movement was the only one in which the RSS was directly involved, though its volunteers could join others if Hindus sought their support.

Bhagwat reiterated that the Sangh backs Constitutionally mandated reservations “as long as required”, described caste as “outdated” and called for an egalitarian system free of exploitation. He also stressed that religion is a matter of individual choice and conversions should not be forced.

On tariffs
On international trade, Bhagwat said India must remain self-reliant. “There can be no friendship under pressure,” he said, referring to tariff disputes with the US.

He also spoke on demographic changes, saying illegal migration and conversion were key concerns. “Employment should go to our own people, including Muslims,” he added.

Bhagwat underlined that Akhand Bharat was a “fact of life” and said swayamsevaks had played an active role in the freedom struggle and protests against Partition.

The RSS chief noted that even the organisation was studying the use of Artificial Intelligence. “AI can learn languages and even write poetry, but can it understand emotions?” he asked.

On population policy
Bhagwat also said every Indian family should have three children to keep the population stable and manageable. He referred to India’s population policy target of 2.1 children per family, which he said essentially means three.

Bhagwat stressed that all Indian-origin languages are national languages and urged consensus on a common link language, which he said should not be foreign. While noting that the RSS is not against English, he said Indians should not “become English” and emphasised the importance of Sanskrit in understanding India’s traditions. He added that nothing should be forcibly imposed in the education system, including languages.

On freedom struggle
Bhagwat also strongly rejected allegations that the Sangh stayed away from the freedom movement or that it followed a militant approach, calling such claims “false” and “foolish.”

He cited the contributions of RSS founder K B Hedgewar, who was jailed twice during the independence struggle. He highlighted the role of RSS in the 1942 uprisings at Ashti and Chimur in Maharashtra, where several lost their lives.

The RSS, he said, often provided covert support to revolutionaries and freedom fighters, including sheltering leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali. “The Sangh supports and participates in social movements, but does not seek credit,” he said, adding that its ethos of non-violence has enabled it to grow into an organisation with over 75 lakh members.
(With PTI, IANS inputs.)