‘Anyone can come as long as…’: Mohan Bhagwat clarifies if Muslims, Christians can join RSS

Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomes people from all faiths, including Muslims and Christians, as long as they identify as “sons of Bharat Mata” and part of the “broader Hindu society.”

Speaking at a two-day lecture series titled 100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons in Bengaluru, Bhagwat clarified that the Sangh does not differentiate between people based on caste or religion.

“No Brahmin, no other caste, no Muslim, and no Christian is specifically allowed in Sangh. Only Hindus are allowed. People from different denominations, including Muslims and Christians, can join the Sangh but must leave their separateness out,” he said.

He added that the organisation’s approach was rooted in unity and shared national identity. “Muslims and Christians, along with all other castes from the Hindu society, come to Shakha. But we do not count or ask about their background. We are all sons of Bharat Mata. That is how the Sangh operates,” Bhagwat said.

Defending the organisation’s legal status, the RSS chief said the Sangh had been recognised multiple times by courts despite past bans. “Sangh started in 1925. Do you expect us to register with the British government? Against whom? We were banned thrice. The government recognised us. If we were not there, who would they ban? Each time, the courts dismissed the ban and made RSS a legal organisation,” Bhagwat said.

“Legally and factually, we are an organisation. We are not unconstitutional. We operate within the constitution. So we do not need to register. Many things are not registered, even Hindu Dharma is not registered,” he added.

Explaining the Sangh’s larger goal, Bhagwat said the organisation seeks to “organise and empower Hindu society” to build a prosperous India that can guide the world towards peace and happiness through Dharma.