Will Step Down If Sangh Asks, Says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat; Backs SC/ST Quota, Calls for Consensus on UCC
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said he would willingly relinquish his position if the organisation asks him to do so, clarifying that he continues as Sarsanghchalak only because the Sangh has requested him to remain in the role despite his having turned 75.
Speaking during an interaction organised as part of the RSS centenary year celebrations in Mumbai, Bhagwat said it is commonly believed that after the age of 75, one should function without holding any official post.
“I have conveyed this to the Sangh, but it has asked me to continue my work,” he said.
No Election, No Caste Formula for RSS Chief
Bhagwat underlined that the RSS chief is not chosen through elections, nor is the selection based on caste or community considerations. The decision, he said, depends on merit and availability.
“I cannot predict whether the next RSS chief will be from the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes. That decision rests entirely with the organisation,” he said, adding, “Whoever is appointed will be a Hindu—caste is irrelevant.”
Recalling his own elevation, Bhagwat said that when he was chosen, there were several capable candidates, but they were already assigned other responsibilities.
“I was the only one available,” he noted. He stressed that being from an SC/ST background is neither a disqualification nor does being a Brahmin make one eligible.
On Reservation and Social Justice
The RSS chief said that rreservationsfor SCs and STs should continue as long as caste-based discrimination exists in society.
“If one section has faced discrimination for 2,000 years, what is wrong with extending benefits for 200 years?” he asked.
He added that the reservation can only be reconsidered when the beneficiaries themselves voluntarily state that they no longer need it. “This is a subject open to debate, both in favour and against,” he said.
Population, Family and Social Behaviour
Addressing concerns over demographic trends, Bhagwat said that every family should ideally have three children.
He clarified that this was not merely about population numbers but about overall family well-being.
“Population scientists and psychologists agree that children in such families develop better ego-management skills, which helps later in life,” he said.
Conversions, Infiltration, and Electoral Rolls
On religious conversions, Bhagwat said that voluntary conversion is not objectionable, but conversions through coercion or inducement are a serious concern.
He called for speeding up efforts related to ‘ghar wapsi’ (return to one’s ancestral faith).
He also spoke about large-scale infiltration, describing it as a challenge requiring extensive identification and deportation measures.
Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Bhagwat said such exercises help identify infiltrators. “We are not obligated to provide jobs or rights to citizens of other countries,” he asserted.
Uniform Civil Code Needs Consensus
On the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Bhagwat said the idea was good and aligned with national unity and integrity. However, he stressed that its implementation must follow due process and wide consultations.
“People should accept it voluntarily. A change in mindset is essential. When diversity exists within a sense of oneness, the nation faces fewer threats,” he said.
RSS and BJP: Separate Paths
Asked whether the BJP coming to power meant ‘achhe din’ for the RSS, Bhagwat replied in the negative.
He said the RSS has always pursued its own path and plans. “Those who align with our ideology may benefit.
While the BJP has earned punya, at times their sins have also impacted us adversely,” he remarked.
On Corruption and Caste Politics
Calling corruption a deep-rooted problem, Bhagwat said laws alone cannot eliminate it. “The RSS focuses on sanskar (values). We neither take bribes nor give them. Corruption requires a collective change in mindset,” he said.
He also criticised caste-based politics, saying political parties exploit caste divisions purely for votes. “If people refuse to be polarised on caste lines, such politics will fail. Ultimately, it’s all about votes for them,” he said.
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