India's partition based on religion, but we supported 'sarva dharma sambhav' because we are Hindus: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (x.com/RSSorg)

• Bhagwat: Hindu-Muslim unity flawed; communities were never truly separate.
• RSS chief stated the Sangh isn't a paramilitary force and stays separate from politics.
• Bhagwat: RSS backs positive initiatives, operates without animosity

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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that the notion of Hindu-Muslim unity represents a fundamentally flawed concept, arguing that the two communities were never separate to require any sort of "unification".

Speaking at a high-profile gathering in Mumbai attended by prominent business leaders including Radhakishan Damani, Sajjan Jindal, Ajay Piramal, Ridham Desai, and Nirmal Jain, Bhagwat addressed the religious partition of India while explaining his organization's philosophical stance.

Bhagwat stated that despite India's partition along religious lines, the country embraced the principle of 'sarva dharma sambhav' — equal respect for all religions — specifically because of Hindu values.

"Hindu Muslim unity is a flawed concept because we were never separate to begin with. India's partition based on religion, but we supported 'sarva dharma sambhav' because we are Hindus," Bhagwat said at the Mumbai event.

Discussing the historical context surrounding the RSS's founding in 1925, Bhagwat explained that the British initially established the Indian National Congress as a "safety valve", but Indians successfully transformed it into a powerful instrument for independence.

During his address, the RSS leader clarified his organization's position and purpose, emphasizing that the Sangh operates without animosity toward any group and does not pursue power or popularity.

Bhagwat traced various intellectual movements that emerged during India's independence struggle, citing reformers and leaders such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and Dayananda Saraswati. However, he expressed concern that efforts to provide societal direction and create an enabling environment remain incomplete.

The RSS chief explicitly stated that his organization does not function as a reactive force responding to specific incidents. Instead, it concentrates on supporting and strengthening positive initiatives already underway across the country.

Addressing common misconceptions about the RSS, Bhagwat clarified that despite conducting route marches, the organization should not be viewed as a paramilitary force. Similarly, while volunteers train with the lathi, the Sangh should not be mistaken for an akhada or wrestling club.

He also distinguished between the RSS and political activity, noting that while some individuals with Sangh backgrounds participate in political life, the organization itself remains separate from politics.