RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday addressed questions about possible differences between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stressing that while there may at times be a “struggle,” there is no quarrel between the two organisations.
Speaking at the Vyakhyanmala event in New Delhi, organised as part of the RSS centenary celebrations, Bhagwat emphasised that the Sangh maintains good coordination with both central and state governments.
Responding to speculation about strains between the RSS and its political affiliate after the BJP’s below-expectation performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bhagwat dismissed the idea of an internal rift. He explained, “We have good coordination with every government, whether state or central. But there are internal systems that sometimes create contradictions. Even if the leader is fully aligned with us, he faces hurdles and must be given independence to work. There is no quarrel anywhere.”
His remarks come against the backdrop of his earlier comments after the 2024 elections, when he stressed the need to move beyond election rhetoric and focus on resolving the Manipur conflict. Those statements were interpreted by some as critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sparked rumours that the RSS had adopted a hands-off approach during the polls.
Prime Minister Modi, however, recently praised the Sangh in his Independence Day address, describing it as the “world’s largest NGO.” With the RSS set to complete 100 years this October on Vijaya Dashami, Modi’s comments were seen as politically significant and as a message that any perceived tensions between the two are behind them.
Separately, Bhagwat also made a strong statement on India’s population policy. He argued against the popular idea of “hum do, hamare do” (we two, our two), suggesting instead that families should have three children. “We should move towards a policy of ‘we two, our three.’ Every family should have at least three children,” Bhagwat said, urging Indian citizens to contribute to population growth.