Bengaluru, November 9, 2025
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat sparked a national conversation on the organization's ethos during a public address in Bengaluru on Sunday, asserting that "only Hindus" are formally allowed as members in the Sangh, while extending an open invitation to people of all faiths—including Muslims and Christians—to participate in its activities by embracing a shared identity as "sons of Bharat Mata." The remarks, delivered at a shakha event amid the organization's centenary year celebrations, aimed to underscore the RSS's cultural nationalism but drew swift interpretations ranging from endorsements of unity to accusations of subtle exclusion.
Speaking to a gathering of over 5,000 swayamsevaks at the RSS's Karnataka headquarters, Bhagwat addressed queries on the Sangh's membership criteria, emphasizing its roots in Hindu society while rejecting caste or religious silos. "No Brahmin is allowed in Sangh, no other caste is allowed in Sangh. No Muslim, no Christian is allowed in the Sangha... Only Hindus are allowed," he stated plainly, before elaborating: "People with different denominations—Muslims, Christians, any denomination—can come to the Sangha but keep your separateness out. Your speciality is welcome. But when you come inside Shakha, you come as a son of Bharat Mata, a member of this Hindu society."
Bhagwat's words, captured in viral clips that amassed over a million views on X within hours, framed "Hindu" not as a rigid religious label but as a civilizational umbrella encompassing all natives of India. "We don't take their count, and we don't ask who they are. We are all sons of Bharat Mata. That is how Sangh works," he added, invoking the RSS's foundational 1925 pledge to foster national pride beyond sectarian divides. The sarsanghchalak also quipped on the RSS's unregistered status—"Even Hindu dharma is not registered"—in response to ongoing legal debates over its formal structure, a nod to recent Supreme Court observations on the organization's voluntary nature.
### Context: RSS's Evolving Outreach in a Polarized Era
The statement arrives at a pivotal moment for the RSS, which has ramped up interfaith dialogues since Bhagwat's 2018 outreach to Muslims and Christians amid rising communal tensions. Under his decade-long leadership, the organization has hosted events like the 2022 "Sabka Saath" conclaves, inviting minority leaders to shakhas while maintaining that true integration requires shedding "foreign-induced separateness." Critics, however, view such overtures as performative, pointing to the RSS's historical ties to Hindutva ideology that some argue marginalizes non-Hindus.
In Bengaluru—a cosmopolitan hub with significant Muslim and Christian populations—the address resonated differently. Local swayamsevaks distributed pamphlets echoing Bhagwat's message, with one organizer telling PTI: "This is an invitation, not a barrier. We've seen Dalit and tribal brothers lead shakhas; faith shouldn't divide." Yet, opposition voices were quick to pounce. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate tweeted: "RSS's 'Hindu-only' gatekeeping exposes the BJP's hypocrisy on unity. If Bharat Mata is for all, why the qualifiers?" AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi labeled it "a wolf in sheep's clothing," urging minorities to "read between the lines of conditional welcome."
BJP allies, meanwhile, hailed the clarity. Union Minister Anurag Thakur posted on X: "Sarsanghchalakji's vision unites, doesn't divide—Hindu society is India's soul, open to all who cherish it." The timing, just days before the RSS's Vijayadashami rally in Nagpur, amplifies its messaging ahead of state elections where communal harmony is a flashpoint.
### Broader Ripples: Inclusivity or Ideology?
Bhagwat's nuanced take builds on his 2024 Christmas greetings to Christians, where he advocated "rashtra-first" patriotism over proselytization. RSS insiders say it aligns with the organization's pracharak training, which prioritizes cultural assimilation. "It's not exclusion; it's evolution—Hindu as a way of life, not a club," explained ideologue Rakesh Sinha in a TV panel.
Social media erupted in polarized threads, with #RSSForAll trending alongside #HinduOnlySangh. Progressive handles shared archival clips of Bhagwat's 2019 remark—"No one is asked to convert"—while detractors unearthed 1990s quotes from predecessors emphasizing "Hindu rashtra."
As the sun set over Bengaluru's UB City skyline, Bhagwat's words lingered like a litmus test for the RSS's centenary ambitions: Can a "Hindu-only" core truly embrace the mosaic? For now, the Sangh's shakhas stand as testing grounds, where the call of the bugle invites all—but on terms of shared motherhood.
This report is based on on-site coverage, official RSS statements, and social media analysis. For RSS updates, visit rss.org.
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